'Slumdog' wins big at Attenborough Awards

LONDON, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- The Mumbai-set drama "Slumdog Millionaire" has earned four Richard Attenborough Film Awards, it was announced in London Thursday.

The movie was declared best film of the year, while Britain's Danny Boyle won the award for best director and British actor Dev Patel the gong for rising star of the year, the BBC said.

The awards were voted for online by regional film critics across the United Kingdom over a period of six weeks.

British film star Kate Winslet won the best actress of the year honor for her work in "The Reader" and Hollywood's Mickey Rourke the actor of the year prize for his performance in "The Wrestler."

Irish playwright-turned-screenwriter Martin McDonagh earned the screenwriting award for his first feature film "In Bruges."

The public voted "Mamma Mia!" as its favorite British film of the year and Patel British breakthrough star, while "The Dark Knight" picked up People's Choice awards for film of the year and film score, the BBC said.