An air of predictability occurred at last night’s EE BAFTA Awards ceremony, as the Brits helped some films edge closer to Oscar glory with their winners.

Following up its Golden Globe success last month, the epic family drama Boyhood clinched three key awards, including the coveted Best Film accolade ahead of Birdman, The Grand Budapest Hotel and British efforts The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything.

The film, which follows a family over the course of twelve years, also secured Best Director for its filmmaker Richard Linklater, while Patricia Arquette edged closer towards a potential Oscar victory by winning the Supporting Actress award for her role as Mason’s mother.

The Grand Budapest Hotel ended up with the most wins on the night, as it clinched five accolades, including Best Original Screenplay for its absent director / writer Wes Anderson. It also did well in the technical categories with victories in Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup & Hairstyling and Original Music for composer Alexandre Desplat.

The other films to stand out amongst the winners were the Stephen Hawking biopic The Theory of Everything which landed a hat-trick of gongs including Outstanding British Film, Adapted Screenplay and another Leading Actor triumph for star Eddie Redmayne who is now in pole position to secure the same award at the Oscars later this month.

 

It was also three’s company for the intense musical-drama Whiplash, as it clinched wins for Editing, Sound and yet another Supporting Actor award for veteran J. K. Simmons to accompany his Golden Globe and SAG successes in recent weeks.

Despite her film not being released in the UK until next month, Julianne Moore nabbed another Leading Actress accolade for her role as an Alzheimer’s sufferer in the family drama Still Alice. She overcame British stars Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything) and Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) to take the award and potentially end her Oscar curse.

Other noteworthy winners on the night included a Special Visual Effects triumph for Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi epic Interstellar, while the gay rights comedy-drama Pride deservedly secured the Outstanding Debut by a British Writer/Director or Producer accolade.

Despite its shocking snub at the Oscars, The LEGO Movie was named Best Animated Film, while the Polish drama Ida won Best Film Not in the English Language.

However, it was a disappointing evening for the recently-revived Birdman as it managed just the one award for its cinematography, while The Imitation Game went home empty-handed despite receiving nine nominations.

Veteran British filmmaker Mike Leigh was awarded the BAFTA Fellowship for his outstanding contribution to cinema which included the likes of Secrets & Lies (1996), Vera Drake (2004), Happy Go-Lucky (2008) and last year’s Mr. Turner.

For the second year in a row, another young British male actor was the recipient of the EE Rising Star Award as Jack O’Connell (’71, Unbroken) won ahead of versatile opponents like Margot Robbie and Shailene Woodley.

Once again, the ceremony was hosted exquisitely by comedian actor Sir Stephen Fry, who enjoyed sharing some kisses with male attendees and even had a fan-girl moment when he revealed that Tom Cruise was announcing the Best Film award.

The full list of EE BAFTA winners are…

 

BEST LEADING ACTRESS
Julianne Moore, STILL ALICE

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Patricia Arquette, BOYHOOD

 

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Theory Of Everything (Anthony McCarten)

 

BEST EDITING
WHIPLASH

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
BIRDMAN