I'm sure it makes the British film community cringe whenever someone calls their annual Orange British Academy Film Awards 'England's version of America's Oscars'. The comparison's not meant to denigrate the BAFTA event, but rather for those of us on this side of the pond, it's just the easiest way to explain what the Orange British Academy Film Awards are in terms of their importance in the overall scope of award shows.

The BAFTA Awards are the be all, end all for filmmakers and actors in England, however BAFTA voters aren't afraid to venture outside England's geographic boundaries. The fact they honor - as do the Oscars, Globes, and other assorted American award shows - filmmakers from around the globe makes them no less special to the British community. This year's batch of BAFTA winners proves great filmmakers and great actors aren't limited to any particular nationality. Although the English period drama Atonement did capture the Best Film title, it was France's La Vie en Rose that came out smelling like one. The biography of legendary songstress Edith Piaf netted actress Marion Cotillard leading actress honors and wound up the night's big winner with four Orange British Academy Film awards.

Cotillard's win doesn't make her the frontrunner for the Oscar, however it may propel a few last minute Academy voters to check out her performance, if they haven't already done so, before mailing in their ballots. Oscar voters have until February 19th to return their final ballots to the Academy. The old "my dog ate my ballot" excuse doesn't float with PricewaterhouseCoopers, the accounting firm once again in charge of making sure the votes are correctly tallied. If a ballot's not postmarked before the deadline, it's not included in the final tally. No exceptions!