Atonement Takes Trio of Top Honors at Empire Awards

From The Times, results of possibly the last significant trophy event of the season (?). the Sony Ericsson Empire (Magazine) Awards.

British film fans delivered their verdict on the Oscars after voting Keira Knightley and Atonement the big winners at the Empire magazine awards. The Ian McEwan adaptation, snubbed in the major Oscar categories, took three prizes including Best British Film at the Grosvenor House ceremony. Knightley, also overlooked by the Bafta panel, was finally vindicated after readers of the top-selling film monthly voted her Best Actress. Her co-star James McAvoy, who lost out at the Baftas to Daniel Day-Lewis, accepted the Best Actor award at the event, attended by stars including Matt Damon and Ewan McGregor.

• Best Actress – Keira Knightley, Atonement
• Best Actor – James McAvoy, Atonement
• Best British Film – Atonement
• Best Film – The Bourne Ultimatum
• Best Newcomer – Sam Riley, Control
• Best Director – David Yates, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Empire Icon Award – Ewan McGregor
• Empire Inspiration Award – Guillermo del Toro
• Best Comedy – Hot Fuzz
• Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy – Stardust
• Best Horror – 28 Weeks Later
• Best Thriller – American Gangster
• Sony Ericsson Soundtrack Award – Control
• Outstanding Contribution to British Film – Shane Meadows
• Done in 60 Seconds (short film) – Titanic

If there’s ever an addition of an “audience award” category at the Oscars as some suggest, maybe we can get the Brits to vote instead of Americans, as safeguard to good taste.

(thanks to sartre for the link)