Editor

Britain’s leading film critics have today announced that their 32nd awards ceremony will be held on 19 January 2012, bringing the annual event earlier in the awards calendar than in previous years. The awards will be held at BFI Southbank, hosted by¬¬¬¬ broadcaster and Chairman of The Critics' Circle Film Section Jason Solomons, and are expected to attract a host of well-known British and international film talent.

Since its first edition in 1980, these awards have become one of the most anticipated and glamorous ceremonies in the annual film calendar. In recent years guests and award winners have included Quentin Tarantino, Carey Mulligan, Sienna Miller, Martin Scorsese, Daniel Craig, James McAvoy, Vanessa Redgrave, Sir Michael Caine, Kevin Spacey, Emma Thompson, Marion Cotillard, Lord Attenborough, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, Ralph Fiennes, Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett and Albert Finney. Last year’s ceremony was no exception and drew a star-studded red carpet with guests including Colin Firth, Aaron Sorkin, Sam Taylor-Wood, Rosamund Pike, Mike Leigh and Dilys Powell Award recipient, Kristin Scott Thomas.

Next year’s competition is set to draw an equally stellar line up. Winners of awards for Film of the Year, Director of the Year, Actor / Actress of the Year will all be voted for by the UK’s leading film critics. Last awards show saw international hits The Social Network and The Fighter scoop awards alongside a wealth of British films including The King’s Speech, Another Year and Neds.

The Critics’ Circle Film Section will be voting the following categories:
Film of the Year
The Attenborough Award: British Film of the Year
Foreign Language Film of the Year
Documentary of the Year
Director of the Year
The Virgin Atlantic Award for Breakthrough British Film-Maker
The Sky 3D Award for Technical Achievement
Actor of the Year
Actress of the Year
British Actor of the Year
The Moët Award for British Actress of the Year
Supporting Actor of the Year
Supporting Actress of the Year
Screenwriter of the Year
Young British Performer of the Year
Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film
Chairman of The Critics’ Circle Film Section, Jason Solomons, comments:
"This date shift will further underline the distinctive choices of winners and nominees that make The London Critics' Circle Film Awards stand out from the crowd, highlighting certain films, performances and achievements that may be overlooked by other awards events.

I am also delighted to be joining with BFI Southbank's legendary venue for a second year, cementing our awards' position at the very heart of British film culture, heritage and industry. We would like to thank Virgin Atlantic for joining as headline sponsor, illustrating their support for the best and newest in film."

This year's edition of the Critics' Circle Film Awards will again be in aid of their charity partner, the BFI National Archive, to help with the preservation and restoration of British film, in particular Hitchcock's nine silent features, as part of the BFI's landmark 'Rescue the Hitchcock 9’ campaign.