Mike Leigh's superb has cleaned up at the National Society Of Film Critics Awards in the US.

The film, starring newcomer Sally Hawkins as a sunny, uncynical primary-school teacher,𝔉 nabbed four prizes - Best Director and Screenwriter for Leigh, Best Actress for Hawkins and Best Supporting Actor for Eddie Marsan (ace as a sociopathic driving i𒅌nstructor).

The event is seen as the kick-off for awar♉ds season and Hawkins' nod should see her blip brightly on the Oscar radar.

We praised her performance in the Total Film mag back in A💞pril 2008 and she'd be an excellent choice for a Best Actress nom.

The other likely B✱rit nominee Kate Winslet could help her choose a nice fr𝓰ock.

Other winners at the NSFC Awards include Sean Penn (Best Actor for ) and harrowing Israeli animation (Best Film)๊.

got Best Doc, too - which also makes us happy.