Two big film events took place last weekend. The European Film Awards, touching down in Berlin this year, handed out its best film gong to Lars Von Trier's Melancholia. "I should say from Lars that he has no statement for you," the director's wife, who accepted the statuette, declared with characteristic Von Trier playfulness. "But he did ask that I should wave to you in a kind and gentle way." The big acting prizes went to Tilda Swinton for We Need to Talk About Kevinand (a tad belatedly) Colin Firth for The King's Speech.

There was a shock at the British Independent Film Awards when Paddy Considine's gruelling Tyrannosaurbeat Kevin, Shameand Tinker Tailor Soldier Spyto the best film prize and Olivia Colman shut out favourite Swinton to take best actress. Less surprisingly, Michael Fassbender, already a victor at Venice, picked up best actor for Shame.

A perusal of that list confirms 2011 as a true annus mirabilisfor British cinema.