The voting will take place online at filmoftheyear.co.uk, where a dedicated area gives full details of eligibility criteria, voting procedures and shortlists for the public votes. Voting opens in mid-November. 

All the results – for the critics’ awards and public votes – will be announced on Monday 13 December. These awards will celebrate a spectacular year of cinemagoing in 2010, which is on course to set new records for box-office and admissions. It has been a strong and varied year for British films, including Tamara Drewe, Made in Dagenham, Burke and Hare, Another Year, The Infidel, The Ghost, The King’s Speech and the eagerly awaited first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. 2010 has also been 3D’s biggest year to date in UK cinemas. Three of the five highest grossing films of the year so far were released in digital 3D: Toy Story 3, Alice in Wonderland and Shrek Forever After.

 Lord Attenborough CBE said:  “I have always believed that the cinema’s astonishing power to surprise, move, amuse and, above all, entertain can only be fulfilled when films are experienced by audiences. Critics can highlight and champion new films they admire, contributing to the all-important word of mouth on their release. As three-quarters of UK cinema admissions take place outside the London area, I am only too pleased to support the regional critics in their appreciation and celebration of the finest filmmaking".