Sci-fi epic “Dune” gained 5 prizes and darkish Western “The Energy of the Canine” was named finest movie as the British Academy Film Awards returned Sunday with a stay, black-tie ceremony after a pandemic-curtailed occasion in 2021.
Jane Campion was named finest director for “The Energy of the Canine,” solely the third girl to win the prize within the awards’ 75-year historical past.
Lead appearing trophies went to Hollywood star Will Smith and British performer Joanna Scanlan, as an occasion that has labored to beat a historic lack of range acknowledged a variety of skills — together with the primary deaf appearing winner in Troy Kotsur for “CODA.”
Final yr’s awards ceremony was largely performed on-line, with solely the hosts and presenters showing in particular person. This yr’s return to in-person celebration at London’s Royal Albert Corridor came about within the shadow of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.
British movie academy chairman Krishnendu Majumdar opened the present, hosted by Australian actor-comedian Rebel Wilson, with a message of assist for Ukraine.
“We stand in solidarity with those that are bravely preventing for his or her nation and we share their hope for a return to peace,” he stated.
After that got here the glitz, with 85-year-old diva Shirley Bassey and a stay orchestra performing “Diamonds Are Without end” to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the James Bond movies.
“Bond is popping 60, and his girlfriends are turning 25,” joked host Wilson, who toned down her traditional bawdy materials for the ceremony’s early-evening TV broadcast on the BBC.
Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune,” starring Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya, took 5 trophies from its 11 nominations: visible results, manufacturing design, sound, Greig Fraser’s cinematography and Hans Zimmer’s rating.
“The Energy of the Canine,” set in Twenties Montana and starring Benedict Cumberbatch as a ranch proprietor, was nominated in eight classes and gained two large ones: finest movie and finest director. Campion is just the third feminine winner in that class, however the second in two years after Chloe Zhao for “Nomadland” in 2021.
Cumberbatch misplaced to Smith, who was named finest actor for his efficiency as the daddy of Serena and Venus Williams in “King Richard.”
Scanlan was a shock best-actress winner, beating contenders together with Girl Gaga to win for “After Love,” a primary function by Aleem Khan a few girl who makes a life-changing discovery after her husband’s loss of life.
Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical “Belfast,” the story of a childhood overshadowed by Northern Eire’s violent “Troubles,” was named finest British movie.
Ariana DeBose was named finest supporting actress for her efficiency as Anita in musical “West Facet Story,” and the supporting actor prize went to Troy Kotsur for “Coda,” through which he performs the deaf father of a listening to daughter. Kotsur, who can also be Oscar-nominated, is the primary deaf actor to win a BAFTA.
“Have you ever thought-about possibly a deaf James Bond?” he requested in his speech, delivered in signal language.
Lashana Lynch, who made a splash as a double-0 agent in “No Time To Die,” took the rising star award, the one class chosen by public vote. She thanked “the ladies of this nation who taught me what it’s to be on this trade as a dark-skinned girl. I thanks for laying the muse for individuals like me.”
The Bond thriller additionally gained the prize for finest enhancing.
Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Oscar-nominated drama “Drive My Automobile” was named finest movie not in English.
The British awards are normally held per week or two earlier than the Academy Awards and have turn into an essential awards-season staging publish. This yr’s Oscars happen March 27.
The British movie academy has expanded its voting membership and shaken up its guidelines lately in an try to handle a obtrusive lack of range within the nominations. In 2020, no girls had been nominated as finest director for a seventh consecutive yr, and all 20 nominees within the lead and supporting performer classes had been white.
Majumdar stated this yr’s extra various discipline confirmed that “change has come.” However the celebration of cinema was subdued, with many attendees reflecting on the warfare raging on the opposite aspect of Europe.
Cumberbatch wore a lapel badge within the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag. He stated it was to oppose the “megalomaniac” Russian President Vladimir Putin “raining down terror” on Ukraine.
“It’s a really scary and unhappy time,” he stated on the purple carpet. “Though this can be a gesture, and folks can say it’s hole, it’s simply one thing I can do tonight” — together with pressuring British politicians to soak up extra refugees from the warfare.
Jonas Poher Rasmussen, director of animated function “Flee,” the story of an Afghan refugee, stated it was “surreal” to be at an awards present when “the world is burning.”
However he stated photos of the hundreds of thousands pushed from their houses in Ukraine underscored the message that “these tales have to be informed.”
