MUMBAI: At London, on Sunday 16 February, at the EE British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA), 12 Years a Slave was named Best Film with Chiwetel Ejiofor (Dancing On the Edge) winning Leading Actor. The Awards were hosted by Stephen Fry (Alice in Wonderland, Sherlock Holmes: a Game of Shadows) and held at London’s Royal Opera House. Gravity won six awards: Outstanding British Film, Original Music, Cinematography, Sound and Special Visual Effects with Alfonso Cuarón (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) winning for Director.
American Hustle won three BAFTA Awards: Original Screenplay for Eric Warren Singer (The International) and David O. Russell (The Fighter), Make Up & Hair, and Supporting Actress for Jennifer Lawrence (The Silver Linings Playbook). Production Design and Costume Design were awarded to The Great Gatsby.
Leading Actress was presented to Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth, The Monuments Men) for playing the title role in Blue Jasmine - her third BAFTA win - and in his feature film debut Barkhad Abdi won Supporting Actor for Captain Phillips. Director and Writer Kieran Evans received the award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for his first feature film Kelly + Victor.
Adapted Screenplay was awarded to Jeff Pope (Mrs. Biggs) and Steve Coogan (Alan Partridge) for Philomena, Steve Coogan also produced and starred in the film. The Great Beauty won the award for Film Not in the English Language and the BAFTA for Editing went to Rush.
The Act of Killing received the Documentary award and Frozen took home the BAFTA for Animated Film. The EE Rising Star Award, voted for by the public, was presented to Will Poulter (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Millers). Sleeping with the Fishes won the British Short Animation award and the British Short Film award was presented to Room 8.
Director Peter Greenaway whose films include The Draughtsman's Contract and The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover received the award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema. The Fellowship, the highest honour the Academy can bestow, was presented to Helen Mirren (The Queen) by HRH The Duke of Cambridge.
