FORMER Bournemouth Arts Institute graduate Simon Beaufoy was triumphant at the Baftas, picking-up an award for Adapted Screenplay for the hit movie Slumdog Millionaire.

Beaufoy, who learned script writing at the Arts Institute and wrote the British-hit The Full Monty in 1997, has also been nominated for an Oscar in the Adapted Screenplay category and could be victorious again on February 22.

Slumdog cleaned up at the awards with seven gongs including Best Film.

Kate Winslet took home the accolade for Leading Actress for The Reader, although its Dorset-born director Stephen Daldry missed-out on the Director prize, which went to Danny Boyle for Mumbai-based rags-to-riches tale Slumdog.

The Orange British Academy Film Awards, one of the most glamorous events in the film calendar, saw A-listers including Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Sharon Stone, Penelope Cruz, Daniel Craig, Ron Howard and Michael Sheen brave the downpour to dazzle on the red carpet.

Appearing breathless, Winslet said in her acceptance speech: "To be given this award at home, this really means a great deal to me.

"Thank you Bafta, thank you. I want to thank everybody involved in the making of this film.

"They all know who they are and they all deserve a big fat piece of this."

Mickey Rourke was named Leading Actor for his comeback role in The Wrestler, beating Dev Patel for Slumdog, Brad Pitt for The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Sean Penn for Milk and Frank Langella for Frost/Nixon.

Heath Ledger was posthumously awarded the Supporting Actor prize for his role as the menacing Joker in Batman film The Dark Knight. Penelope Cruz won the Supporting Actress prize for her role in the Woody Allen film Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Star of Doctor Who and Adulthood Noel Clarke was the people's choice, taking home the Orange Rising Star Award, voted for by the public. Monty Python star Terry Gilliam was given the Bafta fellowship - the Academy's highest honour.