1. Tulpan: Remarkable romantic comedy set among a nomadic tribe in Kazakhstan.
2. An Education: Nick Hornby's sensitive adaptation of journlaist Lynn Barber's excellent memoir of her first boyfriend.
3. The White Ribbon: Michael Hameke's Palme d'Or winner at Cannes is set in a German village just before the start of the First World War.
4. 2012: Roland Emmerich's thrilling apocalypse movie with John Cusack as the hero.
5. Fantastic Mr Fox: Wes Anderson’s take on Roald Dahl is full of quirky magic — with a sly George Clooney voicing Mr Fox.

Critics' Choice

Film

Andrew O'Hagan

quote An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance quote

2012 Theatre

Fiona Mountford

quote The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C quote

Blood Brothers Music

John Aizlewood

quote The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed quote

Muse

Reader reviews

Theatre

Rachel Dalziel

quote I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play quote

Gilbert Is Dead Restaurants

Raja, London

quote I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food quote

Babbo Music

Katy, London

quote Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW! quote

Muse

Majestic Gillian launches film festival

By Evening Standard 19.10.06

Add your view

James McAvoy and Gillian Anderson at the premiere in Leicester Square

Look here too

A heavily pregnant Gillian Anderson helped launch the London Film Festival with the premiere of her The Last King Of Scotland.

Former X-Files actress Anderson stars alongside Forest Whitaker and James McAvoy, who were also at the premiere in Leicester Square.

US star Whitaker has been tipped for an Oscar for his performance as the brutal Ugandan dictator who seized power in a military coup in 1971. He said: "Making the film was an unbelievable experience."

McAvoy, who plays Dr Garrigan, said: "What appealed to me was that I would be playing a westerner in Africa who wasn't a hero but was self-serving, arrogant and selfish; as we have been in Africa and all over the world.

"Filming in Uganda affected me and I'm going back in January to raise awareness for the work of the Red Cross."

Director Kevin Macdonald won an Oscar for Touching The Void, a drama documentary about two climbers.