Fish Tank makes splash at London Critics Circle Awards

Andrea Arnold's drama nets four awards.

by Amber Wilkinson

Gritty coming-of-age tale Fish Tank was the big winner at the 30th annual London Film Critics' Circle Awards, scooping four awards including British film of the year.

Andrea Arnold was named director of the year for the film, which examines how life changes for a teenager after her mum brings home an enigmatic new boyfriend, while newcomer Katie Jarvis was named the NSPCC best young performer for her role as troubled teen Mia and Michael Fassbender - who plays the boyfriend - picked up the British actor in a supporting role gong.

In The Loop scribes Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci and Toni Roche shared the screenwriting award for the political satire, while Duncan Jones was named breakthrough British filmmaker for his sci-fi film Moon.

Colin Firth won the best British actor award for his role in A Single Man, while Carey Mulligan was honoured with the best British actress gong for her part in An Education. Mo'Nique, who has a supporting role as an abusive mother in the Oscar-tipped Precious, was named actress of the year.

For the first time in the awards history, the film of the year award went to a foreign language film - hard-hitting French Prison drama A Prophet. Swedish horror movie Let The Right One, meanwhile was named best foreign language film, while Kathryn Bigelow continued her awards run, picking up the prize for director of the year for her work on The Hurt Locker.

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