For the second year in succession, the award ceremony was held at the Hammersmith Palais, London.
[2] Mike Leigh's period drama, Vera Drake swept the board, winning every category but one in which it was nominated.
[3][4][5][6] As per previous years, only films intended for theatrical release, and those which had a public screening to a paying audience either on general release in the UK or at a British film festival between 1 October 2003 and 30 November 2004 were eligible for consideration.
Winners in fourteen categories were selected from the shortlists and a further three were awarded entirely at the jury's discretion, whose make up included Anthony Minghella, Helena Bonham Carter, Christian Slater, Cate Blanchett, Rosamund Pike, Lynne Ramsay, Sam Taylor-Wood, Skin, Mark Cousins, Laura De Casto (MD, Tartan Films), Antonia Bird, David Aukin, John Akomfrah and Stewart Till.
[7] A new category, The Raindance Award, honouring exceptional achievement for filmmakers working against the odds was introduced in this year.