Ben Affleck was named best director for the based-on-reality story of a long shot plan to rescue a group of American diplomats from Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and the film also took the editing trophy.

Moreover, Iran hostage drama Argo continued its journey from awards season outsider to favourite on Sunday, winning three prizes, including best picture, at the British Academy Film Awards.

In fact, Daniel Day-Lewis won his universally expected best actor trophy for Lincoln the only prize out of 10 nominations for Steven Spielberg’s historical biopic while Emmanuelle Riva was named best actress for Michael Haneke’s poignant old-age portrait Amour.

To say more, Quentin Tarantino picked up the original screenplay award for Django Unchained, and Christoph Waltz was named best supporting actor for playing a loquacious bounty hunter in Tarantino’s slave-revenge thriller.

Writer-director David O. Russell won the adapted screenplay prize for Silver Linings Playbook, a comedy about characters confronting mental illness.

To conclude, French revolutionary musical Les Miserables won four prizes, including best supporting actress for Anne Hathaway. James Bond adventure Skyfall spied some elusive awards recognition, winning trophies for music and best British film.

Great films, Great Honour!
(AW:Samrat Biswas)