If you like to plan ahead, you'll want to add these key films dates to your diary...

January 20
Golden Globe Awards  Annual precursor to the Oscars that proves a good gauge of who's going to win at the Academy Awards. "Moulin Rouge" and "A Beautiful Mind" are this year's hot favourites.

February 5
Empire Film Awards  Fledgling Brit awards, with winners chosen by the readers of Britain's best-selling film magazine.

February 6-17
Berlin International Film Festival  Arguably the third most prestigious film fest (after Cannes and Venice), with competitors pursuing the Golden Bear. Now in its 52nd year.

February 12
Academy Award Nominations  Find out who's going to have to start practising their Oscar acceptance speeches in front of the mirror.

February 24
Orange BAFTA Awards  Reveling in the pre-Oscar limelight, Britain's top awards ceremony dishes out some seriously ugly gold masks. This year the event will be shown live on the BBC (hurrah!).

March 23
Golden Raspberry Awards  The awards that nobody wants to win - for worst film of the year. As ever, competition for the 'razzies' is fierce, but we expect "Planet of the Apes" and "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" to figure heavily.

March 24
Academy Awards Ceremony  The biggest event in the movie calendar, and the night when anyone who's spent a couple of hours at Heathrow's Terminal 4 is pronounced British. This year the event - at a brand new auditorium - will be shown live on the BBC (double hurrah!!).

May 15-26
Cannes International Film Festival  The 55th Cannes Festival will have a new director, so maybe it'll move away from recent accusations of elitism - a sign that this will happen is a celebration of legendary French comedian Jacques Tati.

August 14-25
Edinburgh International Film Festival  The second-biggest film festival in the UK, invariably boasting a healthy number of premieres and special guests.

Aug 29 - Sep 8
Venice International Film Festival  Second only to Cannes, this Italian festival is now in its 58th year. Films compete for the top prize of the Golden Lion (last year's winner was "Monsoon Wedding").

November (dates tbc)
London International Film Festival  The 46th annual festival for the capital, with a staggering number of premieres and gala screenings on offer. Start saving now.

December 7
European Film Awards  Less high profile than their US counterparts, but trying to establish themselves as a major player on the awards stage. This year's event takes place in Rome.

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