KATHRYN BIGELOW made history as the first woman to be named Best Director.

"There is no other way to describe this, it is the moment of a lifetime," she said, before paying tribute to the other nominees, including ex-husband and Avatar director JAMES CAMERON.

"This is so extraordinary to be in the company of such powerful, my fellow nominees, such powerful filmmakers who have inspired me and I have admired for, some of whom, for decades."

And she dedicated her awards to the soldiers fighting in Iraq, where the film is set, and Afghanistan.

"And I'd just like to dedicate this to the women and men in the military who risk their lives on a daily basis in Iraq and Afghanistan and around the world," she said. "And may they come home safe."

Avatar picked up three awards, including Visual Effects.

 

 

 

Brits COLIN FIRTH, HELEN MIRREN and CAREY MULLIGAN lost out in the Best Actor and Actress categories as favourites JEFF BRIDGES and SANDRA BULLOCK won!

The Crazy Heart star, who has been nominated four times before, recalled dad LLOYD BRIDGES and mum DOROTHY DEAN BRIDGES in his speech.

"Thank you mum and dad for turning me on to such a groovy profession," he said.

"I remember my mum, getting all of us kids to entertain at her parties. You know, my dad sitting me on his bed and teaching me all of the basics of acting for a role in Sea Hunt.

"They loved showbiz so much and I feel an extension of them. You know, this is honouring them as much as it is me."

He also thanked his "beautiful wife" SUE of 33 years and their three daughters.

In the tribute to the Best Actor nominees, COLIN FARRELL raised a laugh when he introduced JEREMY RENNER.

"In S.W.A.T. we not only shared a bed but we actually shared a pillow," he said.

"And before the rumours start, it was only spooning."

SANDRA BULLOCK broke down in tears after winning Best Actress for The Blind Side.

Earlier CHRISTOPH WALTZ picked up a Best Supporting Actor award for Inglourious Basterd and MO'NIQUE won Best Supporting Actress for Precious.

 

 

 

LADY GAGA fans are furious after her concert ticket prices doubled in the space of months!

Her "Little Monsters" are being charged £50 to £75 for May and June UK gigs.

Yet entry to recent Monster Ball shows, which ended in Birmingham on Friday, cost between £27.50 and £35.

It comes after the 23-year-old scooped international female solo artist, international album and international breakthrough Brit awards last month.

Complaints have flooded her website.

One fan, Mannisrai, raged: "It's disgusting. We made both albums number one and this is how she repays us."

Another fan, Barley 142007, added: "This is steep."

Gaga lost £2million staging a recent US tour and paid £52,000 for a giant bathtub for her X Factor spot last December.

She once said: "I've gone bankrupt about four times. My manager wants to shoot me."

Her new concert promoter Live Nation defended the "fair and comparable" prices, saying the tour has been upgraded to a "first-rate arena production".