Slumdog dominates UK film awards

Dev Patel took two awards, as voted for by critics and the public

Hit British film and Oscar hopeful Slumdog Millionaire has cleaned up at the Richard Attenborough Film Awards.

The Mumbai-set drama won film of the year, director of the year for Danny Boyle and rising star of the year for the film's teenage star, Dev Patel.

Kate Winslet was named actress of the year for The Reader and Mickey Rourke received the actor of the year prize for his performance in The Wrestler.

The awards are voted for by regional film critics across the UK.

Critics voted online over six weeks, with homegrown films taking the lion's share of awards.

Martin McDonagh is Oscar nominated for Colin Farrell comedy In Bruges

Irish writer Martin McDonagh picked up the screenwriter of the year award for In Bruges.

McDonagh, who is nominated for an Academy Award for best original screenplay next month, previously won a short film Oscar for black comedy Six Shooter in 2006.

Four People's Choice categories were also introduced this year, with Dev Patel picking up a second prize for British Breakthrough Star.

Patel said he was "thrilled" by the "special recognition".

"I have been absolutely amazed by the sheer scale and scope of the reaction to this film and I want to thank everyone for their support," said the 18-year-old star.

The public voted Mamma Mia! as their pick of the year's British films, while The Dark Knight picked up the two remaining People's Choice awards for film of the year and film score.

"These ten awards, spread across six remarkable films, bear witness to the world-class standing of British actors and film-makers," said awards host Liz Fuller.