Roald Dahl classic is children's pick for film of the year

It is the bittersweet tale of a boy who escapes his poverty-stricken existence and becomes heir to a magical chocolate factory full of strange machines and even stranger people.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has defeated action-packed blockbusters and special effects-filled cartoons to be named by children as this year's best feature film at the 10thBritish Academy Children's Film and Television Awards.

A poll of more than 32,000 children voted Tim Burton's vision of Roald Dahl's classic children's book starring Johnny Depp as best film for young people. This latest film version of the 1964 book beat movies including the popular adventure tales Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Batman Begins.

The award, known as the Bafta Kids' Vote, is the only category to be decided by a survey of children rather than being voted for by the British Academy.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was named the most popular from a shortlist of 10 and the award was collected by 13-year-old Freddie Highmore, who played Charlie Bucket in the film. But it was the runner-up in the feature film category, which is voted for by the members of Bafta. This award was won by The Incredibles, a superhero-family adventure, which also beatThe Polar Express and Shark Tale.

Anne-Marie Flynn, the head of awards at Bafta, said: "This shows how Roald Dahl occupies a unique place in children's hearts. There is also a reason why it is classic - they have the ability to resonate with every new generation.

"Half the films on the shortlist were animated and you would have thought that children are now so bombarded by special effects that would be the sort of thing they would choose. But clearly it was the classic storytelling that mattered to them."

Ms Flynn contrasted this with the selection of the Bafta members who chose The Incredibles for its broad appeal and skilful animation. "It was interesting to see how the children and the adults looked at things differently," she said. "I think that the adults particularly loved the brilliant animation and the fabulous artwork in The Incredibles."

Meanwhile Scene: Oddsquad, a television comedy drama set in Hull and featuring three 16-year-olds who feel like outsiders, won the awards for schools drama and best writer for its creators, John Godber and Jane Thornton.

The British Academy presented a special award to The Junior Television Workshop for its "outstanding" development of young talent for film and television. The workshop, which is in its 22nd year, has launched the careers of young performers who have gone on to appear in programmes such as Grange Hill, Dream Team, Bernard's Watch and Tracy Beaker.

The winners

* ANIMATION The Little Reindeer; Jonathan Peel, Dave Unwin. Millimages UK/CiTV

* DRAMA My Life As A Popat; Production Team. Feelgood Fiction/CiTV

* ENTERTAINMENT RAD: The Groms Tour America; Christian Stevenson, Wayne Yates. Sunset and Vine/Five

* FACTUAL Serious Arctic; CBBC/CBBC

* FEATURE FILM The Incredibles; John Walker, Brad Bird. Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Animation Studios/Buena Vista International

* INTERACTIVE Smile; Darrall Macqueen Ltd for CBBC/BBC Worldwide

* INTERNATIONAL Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks; John Over. Mike Young Productions for Entara/CBBC

* PRE-SCHOOL ANIMATION Peppa Pig; Phil Davies, Mark Baker, Neville Astley. Astley, Baker, Davies/Nickelodeon UK

* PRE-SCHOOL LIVE ACTION Boogie Beebies; Clare Bradley, Brendan McCaul. CBeebies/CBeebies

* PRESENTER Michaela Strachan - Michaela's Wild Challenge; Two Hand Productions/Five

* SCHOOLS DRAMA Scene: Oddsquad; Hilary Durman, John Godber, Jane Thornton. Resource Base/BBC2

* SCHOOLS FACTUAL - PRIMARY Primary Geography - India: Mumbai, Urban India; Michelle Jones. CBBC Education/BBC2

* SCHOOLS FACTUAL - SECONDARY School of Hard Knocks; James Capria. UMTV Ltd/Channel 4

* WRITER - ADAPTED Barbara Cox - Wipe Out; CBBC Education/BBC2

* WRITER - ORIGINAL John Godber and Jane Thornton - Scene: Oddsquad; Resource Base/Channel 4

* THE BAFTA KIDS VOTE Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

* SPECIAL AWARD The Junior Television Workshop