Close up: Britain's big film night

The big story I don't know about you, but the end of the awards season can't come quick enough. This week saw the last but one of the major gong-bestowing jamborees, and doesn't it make us feel proud to be British that the Baftas are second only to the really big one, the Oscars? As usual, Xan Brooks' liveblog was the place to be if you weren't actually inside the hall (or maybe even if you were). As we suspected, The Artist turned out to have scooped the lion's share , while the assembled throng did their level best to look nice and act a bit surprised . We even had people on the inside: Black Pond co-directors Tom Kingsley and Will Sharpe . After the event, us Guardian types rushed into print (and video): Peter Bradshaw felt that Bafta might have been more generous to non-Artist films, particularly Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy while Xan Brooks, Catherine Shoard and Henry Barnes said their bit in front of the motion-picture camera . The full list of winners, if you're still interested, is here . In the news The Iron Lady's Meryl Streep says Thatcher 'was a feminist' Billy Bob Thornton denies new movie is based on relationship with Angelina Jolie Whitney Houston's final film Sparkle set for summer release Whitney Houston's death will not derail Waiting to Exhale sequel, says studio Paddy Considine plans true-life tale of boxing underworld Moi, attend the Oscars? It's hard when you feel unwelcome, says Miss Piggy Peter Jackson to direct second Tintin, says Spielberg On the blog David Lynch's Blue Velvet: why I still can't take my eyes off it Reel history: A Dangerous Method whips up a fantasy with a female archetype The Woman in Black scares the bejesus out of the UK box office Phil Hoad: Will Hollywood ever conquer Bollywood? Sean Stone and Islam: what is it about religion and Hollywood? Can Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter bring mashup films back from the dead? Watch and listen Video: A sneak peek at Angelina Jolie's directorial debut Film Weekly podcast: Viggo Mortensen on A Dangerous Method and James Watkins on The Woman in Black Video: Sarah Crown on why Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close should win the best picture Oscar Video: Xan Brooks on why The Tree of Life should win the best picture Oscar Video: Paul MacInnes on why The Descendants should win the best picture Oscar Video: Sean Penn hits out over Prince William's posting in Falklands Further reading Peter Bradshaw reviews Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close Is Arab cinema on the cusp of a potential renaissance? Max von Sydow: god of gravitas Everything you ever wanted to know about the 2012 Berlin film festival In the paper In tomorrow's G2 Film & Music, Andrew Pulver interviews Billy Bob Thornton, while Sukhdev Sandhu investigates colonial cinema as Trishna and Best Exotic Marigold Hotel near release. Woody Harrelson speaks to Simon Hattenstone in Saturday's Weekend Magazine, while the Guide features a history of LAPD corruption movies and an interview with director Daniel Esposito about going from Swedish dramas to Denzel Washington blockbusters. Something to look forward to The Guardian is throwing open its doors on the weekend of 24-25 March for the epic Open Weekend , with hundreds of events on offer across all aspects of ideas, innovation and entertainment". Film highlights include on-stage interviews with Steve "Shame" McQueen and Mike "Leaving Las Vegas" Figgis. Full details of cultural events here. And finally • Follow @guardianfilm on Twitter • Have you seen our Facebook page ?