Empire Film Awards 2009 - the only film awards to be voted entirely by British film fans

It was a star studded night on Sunday 29th March as the film industry’s biggest and most respected stars turned out to celebrate the Jameson Empire Awards 2009. The awards, which were hosted by comedian Dara O’Briain and took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel, were honoured with the presence of stars and directors including Russell Crowe, Viggo Mortensen, Gerard Butler, Mark Strong, James McAvoy, Olga Kurylenko, Gemma Arterton, Jaime Winstone, Jim Sturgess, Jason Isaacs, Mackenzie Crook, Anne-Marie Duff, Cillian Murphy, Michael Sheen, Guy Ritchie, Danny Boyle, Helena Bonham-Carter, Tim Burton and Paul Greengrass.

The film which broke box office records and thrilled crowds across the globe, The Dark Knight, scooped the top prizes with awards for Christopher Nolan for Best Film and Best Director and for Christian Bale, the award for Best Actor. The Jameson Empire team also honoured the life works of a talent sorely missed - the late Heath Ledger, who received a Special Commemoration.

James Bond and Quantum of Solace continue to prove the ultimate in crowd pleasing thrills and spills with the film winning the Best Thriller award, which was collected by the beautiful and talented Olga Kurylenko. And Guy Ritchie’s fantastically fast and furious Brit flick RocknRolla grabbed Best British Film with the cast of Mark Strong, and Gerard Butler joining Guy Ritchie on the stage.

Gemma Arterton, who of course starred in both Quantum of Solace and RocknRolla, beat rivals to be voted Best Newcomer and the much loved and talented Helena Bonham-Carter was honoured with this year’s Best Actress award for her role in Sweeney Todd. Bonham-Carter attended with her husband and film director, Tim Burton .

Sponsors Jameson and Empire Magazine were also very keen this year to acknowledge and honour one of the world’s greatest actors for his phenomenal and diverse performances - Academy Award winner Russell Crowe who was crowned Actor of our Lifetime.

And actor Sean Bean was delighted to take to the stage to honour his Lord of the Rings co-star Viggo Mortensen with the Empire Icon award for his contribution to world cinema.

Meanwhile horror fans will be delighted to know that Eden Lake beat off frightening competition to win Best Horror. Director James Watkins and producer Christian Colson were there to receive their award with cast members Michael Fassbender and Thomas Turgoose . And the mind-bending thriller Wanted scooped the award for Best Sci-Fi/Superhero with star James McAvoy collecting the award on behalf of the filmmakers and all the cast.

On a lighter note, the British film industry has continued to prove itself the world leader in comedy and this year was no exception with Son of Rambow taking its rightful place as Best Comedy with director/writer Garth Jennings, producer Nick Goldsmith and stars Bill Milner and Will Poulter there to receive the award. And proving that musicals are as popular as ever and that you are never too old to sing or dance, this year’s award for Best Soundtrack went to Mamma Mia!

This year sees the return of the aspiring movie-makers award: Done in 60 Seconds: The Revenge. Empire Readers have stunned the voting panel this year with the incredible level of entries with phenomenal one minute reprisals of such classics as Cloverfield and The Dark Knight, Pearl Harbour and Se7en. However, there can only be one winner and Jameson and Empire were delighted to award Stephan Power and Conal O’Meara the award for their fantastic adaptation of Jerry Maguire.

And finally, this year’s award for Outstanding Contribution to British Film was deservedly dedicated to Academy Award-winning director Danny Boyle whose film Slumdog Millionaire wowed audiences globally and won Boyle and the film a staggering eight Academy Awards including Best Director. Boyle had told Empire recently that he would “rather Bury win the FA Cup than get an Oscar” and thus, although unable to make his wish come true, the Jameson Empire team were able to persuade manager Alan Knill, striker Andy Bishop and captain Paul Scott from Bury FC to come down for the evening to present Boyle with his award!