They came, they got soaked, they squeezed into the Leicester Square Odeon with only a complimentary bottle of mineral water for company - and wished they were at the Oscars.

The Baftas, Britain's alternative to the Academy Awards and the 14th major awards ceremony since Christmas, brought central London to a standstill last night.

The sizeable contingent from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which included Dame Maggie Smith, were probably wishing they were still stuck outside as their rival film The Lord of the Rings won Best Film and Best Director for Peter Jackson.

It also cleaned up in the special effects and make-up categories, although Gosford Park won Best Costume Design. The film's director, Robert Altman, was triumphant after winning Best British Film for his classy cross between Upstairs Downstairs and an Agatha Christie whodunnit.

"I feel we have come in the night and stolen the cream," he said. "We had a great British cast for this film and I feel so happy and proud. This is the best thing that has ever happened to me, to come over here and win Best British Film."

There was no such elation from British actor Jim Broadbent, who won Best Supporting Actor for Moulin Rouge. Having won a Golden Globe for playing John Bayley in Iris, Broadbent said he would not be swept away by the sudden adulation. "I am not too bothered. It's been one long surprise this award season - I'm just going with the flow."

The US actor Jennifer Connelly pulled off the surprise of the night by beating the cream of British talent - Dame Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, Dame Maggie and Kate Winslet - to Best Supporting Actress for A Beautiful Mind. "I couldn't believe it was me when they called out my name. I'm so flattered and honoured."

Dame Judi picked up the Best Actress gong for Iris, while Russell Crowe, star of A Beautiful Mind, won the Best Actor prize.

Mulholland Drive, which has everyone's unofficial title for the most fiendishly complicated and puzzled over picture of the year, won Best Editing.

About the only level on which the Baftas could claim to compete with the Oscars was on the size of the grandstand outside, from where the fans could plead for autographs. But they were soaked by the time the first actors and directors turned up and in the downpour few of the glitterati wanted to glad hand anyway.

The only consolations for the little people were the victory of Mexican film Amores Perros for Best Foreign Film, and the three awards for the French film Amelie. There was also a big cheer for Suzie Templeton whose film Dog won the Best Short Animation award.

The British flick, Jump Tomorrow, won the Carl Foreman award for its makers Joel Hopkins and Nicola Usborne.

Best film Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Rings

Alexander Korda award for outstanding British film Gosford Park

Carl Foreman award Joel Hopkins/Nicola Usborne for Jump Tomorrow

David Lean Award for achievement in direction Peter Jackson (Lord Of The Rings)

Best original screenplay Amelie

Best adapted screenplay Shrek

Best actress Judi Dench (Iris)

Best actor Russell Crowe (A Beautiful Mind)

Best supporting actress Jennifer Connelly (A Beautiful Mind)

Best supporting actor Jim Broadbent (Moulin Rouge)

Best music Moulin Rouge

Best foreign language film Amores Perros

Best cinematography The Man Who Wasn't There

Best production design Amelie

Best costume design Gosford Park

Best editing Mulholland Drive

Best sound Moulin Rouge

Best special effects Lord Of The Rings

Best make up/hair Lord Of The Rings

Best short film About a Girl

Best short animation Dog

Orange film of the year Lord of the Rings