REGIONAL MEDIA

Welcome to the regional critics' vote section in The Richard Attenborough Film Awards, the UK's annual regional film awards.

The voting is open to all staff and freelance arts and entertainment writers, critics and editors in all branches of UK regional media.

Voting in the Regional Critics' Categories is now closed. The winners will be announced live at 1.00pm on Thursday 2 February 2012 at www.lovefilm.com

ELIGIBITY CRITERIA

Please read carefully before casting your votes

Film of the Year

This must be a feature film, running time at least 60 minutes, which received a UK theatrical release for the first time between 25 February 2011 and 17 February 2012. A “UK theatrical release” means paid public performances in at least one cinema screen for at least 7 consecutive days, arranged by the film's UK theatrical distributor. Films may be of any genre and of any UK theatrical classification. Films may also come from any country/countries of origin – the RAFAs celebrate the best of UK and international cinema as released to a UK theatrical audience in the stated period. Please note these criteria also apply to films in the other five categories.

The prestigious award for Film of the Year is to celebrate, in your opinion, overall excellence and achievement in filmmaking. Which film in particular stands out as special or remarkable, over and above the year's many other releases? Only one winner will be announced, but your second and third choices will be taken into account in the event of an extremely close vote or tie.

Filmmaker of the Year

The film director – or possibly another senior technician/department head from behind the cameras, such as a credited director of photography, editor or production designer – who, in your opinion, has made the most outstanding creative contribution in filmmaking. You must vote for one person only.

Leading Performances of the Year

The Actor and Actress of any nationality who, in your opinion, have made the greatest impression in a leading role. You must vote for one Actor and one Actress.

Screenwriter of the Year

The credited writer(s) of the screenplay of any one film released during the period. It may be an original script or one based on an existing work in another medium; in any event films are nothing without their screenplays. If you're a professional writer in your own field, whose writing for the cinema did you most admire this year?

British Rising Star

A short list has been compiled for this category. You must vote for one person only from the list provided when the vote goes live.

All time British Legend

A short list has been compiled for this category. You must vote for one person only from the list provided when the vote goes live.