HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE
After a curtailed event last year, the British Academy Film Awards returned with a black-tie event at London’s historic Royal Albert Hall on Sunday. Actor Rebel Wilson kicked off the evening as host, where conversations around the war in Ukraine dominated both the red carpet and the stage. Krishnendu Majumdar, the chairman of the British Film Academy, opened the show saying, “We stand in solidarity with those who are bravely fighting for their country and we share their hope for a return to peace.”
Benedict Cumberbatch — nominated for Best Actor for The Power of The Dog — wore a lapel badge in the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag. “It’s a very scary and sad time. Although this is a gesture, and people can say it’s hollow, it’s just something I can do tonight, along with pressuring British politicians to take in more refugees from the war,” the Sherlock star said on the BAFTA red carpet.
Actor Rebel Wilson was the host of the evening
Joanna Scanlan was the surprise Best Actress winner of the evening
THE BIG WINNERS
Sci-fi magnum opus Dune and Western psychological drama The Power of the Dog were the night’s big winners. Dune took home five trophies out of its record 11 nominations, including Greig Fraser for Cinematography and the legendary Hans Zimmer for his rousing score. The Power of the Dog won the evening’s two biggest honours: Best Film and Best Director for Jane Campion, with Campion becoming only the third woman in the 75-year history of the BAFTAs to win in the category.
Shirley Bassey performing Diamonds Are Forever
Troy Kotsur with his Best Supporting Actor trophy
DIALLING 007
James Bond was the other big focus of the night. To mark the 60th anniversary of the Bond films, 85-year-old diva Shirley Bassey teamed up with a live orchestra to perform the iconic number Diamonds Are Forever. Even as the latest 007 outing No Time To Die won a BAFTA for Best Editing, host Rebel Wilson joked, “Bond is turning 60, and his girlfriends are turning 25!”
Lashana Lynch, who turned heads in No Time To Die, took home the EE Rising Star Award. The actor thanked “the women of this country who taught me what it is to be in this industry as a dark-skinned woman. I thank you for laying the foundation for people like me.”
Intrigue around who will replace Daniel Craig as the next James Bond also made its way to the BAFTAs. “Have you considered maybe a deaf James Bond?” Troy Kotsur, the first hearing-impaired actor to win a BAFTA for his scintillating act in CODA , asked in his speech, delivered in sign language.
Ariana DeBose won Best Supporting Actress for Westside Story
The Best Actor award expectedly went to favourite Will Smith for his moving act in King Richard. Springing the biggest surprise of the evening was Joanna Scanlan, who trumped the more fancied Lady Gaga to win Best Actress for the British film After Love, in which she plays a widow who discovers her late husband’s secret family. The
60-year-old actor, who seemed pretty surprised herself, delivered her winner speech in Welsh, ending with, “Some stories have surprise endings, don’t they?”
Among those in attendance at the evening, Ariana DeBose won Best Supporting Actor for her vibrant turn in Steven Spielberg’s Westside Story, while Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical film Belfast was named Best British Film.
THE HONOUR ROLL
Best Film: The Power of the Dog
Best Director: Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog
Best Actor: Will Smith, King Richard
Best Actress: Joanna Scanlan, After Love
Supporting Actress: Ariana DeBose, West Side Story
Supporting Actor: Troy Kotsur, CODA
Original Screenplay: Licorice Pizza
Adapted Screenplay: CODA
Original Score: Dune
Cinematography: Dune
Editing: No Time To Die
Production Design: Dune
Costume Design: Cruella
Sound Design: Dune
Special Effects: Dune
EE Rising Star Award: Lashana Lynch
Outstanding British Film: Belfast
Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director, Or Producer: Jeymes Samuel (writer/director), The Harder They Fall
Film Not In The English Language: Drive My Car (Japan)
Documentary: Summer of Soul (Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Animated Film: Encanto