British Academy Film Awards 2009
Not even the rain could take the shine off the premier night in British film, The Orange British Academy Film Awards held at London’s Royal Opera House. The event had a real sense of occasion with a glittering A-list attendance including Brangelina, Mickey Rourke, Penelope Cruz, Robert Downey Jnr, Sharon Stone as well as a host of British Film Royalty.
Jaman took to the red carpet, sucked up the atmosphere and then scurried inside to avoid the rain. 
The Royal Opera House is as grand a venue as could be found anywhere for such an event and was packed to the rafters, but being over 150 years old it is not best suited to hold 2,000 plus 21st century beings. After waiting nearly an hour for the stars to file in flight socks maybe should have been advised as part of the black tie dress code to avoid DVTs.
Hosting the event was UK chat show host Jonathan Ross who was finally back from his enforced 3 month exile for being rude to pensioners and he was on best behaviour to curb his language as he was live on the BBC for the night but that didn’t stop others.
At the after party with our guests in tow we then headed off to the party of the night which was the Pathe Slumdog party where we hung out with Bond Girl Gemma Arterton and Courtney Love. The most in demand stars of the night were Dev Patel and Freida Pinto who were surrounded all night, Dev thanked Jaman for our kind words in our BIFA blog from last year. To finish our night off in style we got our hands on a BAFTA when we met Special Visual Effects winner Eric Barba and then headed off to the games room for a game of pool.
At the awards before hand it was Slumdog Millionaire that kept up the charge to Oscar glory with another amazing showing picking up seven BAFTAs in total. Slumdog was named Best Film, Danny Boyle picked up best director and the film also claimed, Adapted Screenplay, Music, Cinematography, Editing and Sound.
Brad Pitt was at the BAFTAs for the first time seeing The Curious Case of Benjamin Button collect three BAFTAs; for Production Design, Make Up & Hair and Special Visual Effects. Pitt was not amongst the winners himself as that honour was Wrestled (sorry I couldn’t resist) from him by the leap from the top rope of obscurity (I will try and stop I promise) by Mickey Rourke to win the Leading Actor award for The Wrestler. A well deserved win which was backed up with the most amusing acceptance speech of the night, just be glad you are not Mickey’s Personal Assistant. Best Supporting Actor award was presented posthumously to Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight which was a sombre point in the night but an important recognition of a lost talent.
In ladies categories Kate Winslet was awarded the BAFTA for Leading Actress for The Reader and the Supporting Actress BAFTA went to Penélope Cruz for her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
As the Brits were cleaning up at the Grammys stateside so was British talent at the BAFTAs in a great night for British film, In Bruges won the BAFTA for Original Screenplay and The Duchess won the BAFTA for Costume Design. Director/writer Steve McQueen received The Carl Foreman Award for Special Achievement by a British Director, Writer or Producer for their First Feature Film for Hunger. Jaman caught up with him at the Dinner where he proudly posed for us.
The BAFTA for Outstanding British Film went to the documentary Man on Wire which is a must see and a great achievement for a feature doc to be recognised amongst such strong competition.
I’ve Loved You So Long took away the Film Not in the English Language BAFTA and the award for Animated Film went to Wall•E. Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death won the Short Animation award and the Short Film award was presented to September.
The Academy Fellowship was awarded to Terry Gilliam who as you would expect gave a slightly surreal and zany speech which was very fitting. The award for Outstanding Contribution to British Cinema was presented to Pinewood and Shepperton Studios.
Once the awards were finished we were all shepherded into coaches and moved en mass to the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane in Mayfair. Jaman were joined for diner by ITV and some specially invited guests. Jaman are not sure if it was sour grapes for not picking up any awards, but Brad and Angelina gave dinner the big swerve, we tried to get an extra portion as they were not eating but failed dismally. Midnight was fast approaching and time for the real fun at the after party.
This year all of the after parties were held at the same venue (except Weinstein who held their bash at almost the polar opposite of town) which was maybe a sign of the global economic climate. Not deterred by this Jaman hit the dance floor and enjoyed live music from The Feeling who performed some fantastic covers as well as there own material.
Jaman had time to chat with Noel Clarke, director and star of Adulthood who won The Orange Rising Star Award. 
This award recognises an international actor or actress who has demonstrated exceptional talent and has begun to be recognised as a film star in the making.
For more pictures from the night click here.
Here is the full list of the nominees and winners.
