The space disaster film with its Mexican director based in London, and American film stars, Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, won Best British Film on Sunday. “Gravity’ swept the 62nd BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Academy) winning a total of six, including best director for Alfonso Cuaron. “12 Years a Slave” won best film overall.
The British producer David Heyman, along with London resident Alfonso Cuaron and his son Jonas qualified this film as a British production. “Gravity” also won four craft awards for cinematography, original music, sound, and special visual effects.
“Dallas Buyers Club” was not nominated for any BAFTA Fim Awards, thus leaving the door wide open for the best actor and supporting actor categories. Chiwetel Ejiofor’s riveting performance in “12 Years a Slave” captured best actor. “Captain Phillips” Barkhad Abdi finally won best supporting actor as the steely Somali pirate.
One of the biggest surprises of the night was Jennifer Lawrence’s win over another favorite, Lupita Nyong’o (“12 Years a Slave”), for best supporting actress in “American Hustle.” Lawrence was not on hand to accept her award.
Actor Jeremy Irons and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, presented Helen Mirren with a lifetime achievement award. Prince William stated, “An extremely talented British actress whom I should probably call ‘Granny.’ The latter was in reference to Mirren’s Oscar-winning performance as Queen Elizabeth II in 2006’s “The Queen.”
The BAFTA “In Memoriam tribute” honored the recent passing of Shirley Temple Black, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Peter O’Toole.
Here is a complete list of winners for the 2014 BAFTA Awards.
OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
“Gravity”
Alfonso Cuarón, David Heyman, Jonás Cuarón
BRITISH SHORT FILM
“Room 8”
James W. Griffiths, Sophie Venner
BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION
“Sleeping with the Fishes”
James Walker, Sarah Woolner, Yousif Al-Khalifa
PRODUCTION DESIGN
“The Great Gatsby”
Catherine Martin, Beverley Dunn
SOUND
“Gravity”
Glenn Freemantle, Skip Lievsay, Christopher Benstead, Niv Adiri, Chris Munro
EDITING
“Rush”
Dan Hanley, Mike Hill
DOCUMENTARY
“The Act of Killing”
Joshua Oppenheimer
MAKE UP & HAIR
“American Hustle”
Evelyne Noraz, Lori McCoy-Bell
COSTUME DESIGN
“The Great Gatsby”
Catherine Martin
ORIGINAL MUSIC
“Gravity”
Steven Price
ANIMATED FILM
“Frozen”
Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee
OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
Kieran Evans
(Director-Writer) “Kelly + Victor”
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Barkhad Abdi, “Captain Phillips”
CINEMATOGRAPHY
“Gravity”
Emmanuel Lubezki
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jennifer Lawrence, “American Hustle”
Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award
Peter Greenaway
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“American Hustle”
Eric Warren Singer, David O. Russell
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
“Philomena”
Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope
EE RISING STAR
Will Poulter
SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
“Gravity”
FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
“The Great Beauty”
LEADING ACTOR
Chiwetwl Ejiofor, “12 Years A Slave”
DIRECTOR
Alfonso Cuaron, “Gravity”
LEADING ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”
BEST FILM
“12 Years a Slave”
BAFTA Fellowship
Helen Mirren
