The British Academy of Film and Television Arts have announced their 2014 winners today in London. Space thriller Gravity took home six awards, including Outstanding British Film, but it’s Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave that took home major gongs for Best Actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Best Film.
Dame Helen Mirren was awarded the Academy Fellowship while filmmaker Peter Greenaway was hailed for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema.
The BAFTAs are the penultimate event of the Awards Season calender – with the Oscars coming up on March 2nd – and follow the Golden Globes, the various critics circle awards, Critics Choice and AFI Awards, and the Guild Awards.
Full list of winners:
Director Steve McQueen. Photo: BAFTA.
BEST FILM: 12 Years a Slave
“I’d like to thank… Lupita Nyong’o, a star is born; Michael Fassbender, the genius; Chiwetel Ejiofor, the one and only; and my one and only mother. Thank you Mum for having the faith. Finally, there are 21 million people in slavery as we sit here. I just hope that 150 years from now our ambivalence will not allow another filmmaker to make this film.”
Producer David Haymen and director Alfonso Curaon. Photo: BAFTA.
BEST BRITISH FILM: Gravity
“We had the most incredible crew on this film, just unbelievable, and Framestore who created the effects, incomparable. Of course, the film would mean absolutely nothing without our cast: George Clooney and the heart of the film, Sandra Bullock… he wouldn’t say it himself, but we wouldn’t be here without our wonderful director Alfonso Cuaron.” (David Haymen).
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: The Great Beauty
“I would love to dedicate this award to a great Italian director whose name was Carlo Mazzacurati.” (Director Paolo Sorrentino).
Director Joshua Oppenheimer. Photo: BAFTA.
BEST DOCUMENTARY: The Act of Killing
“The film is helping to catalyse a change in how Indonesia talks about its past… I dedicate this award to my anonymous Indonesian crew and co-director, who gave 8 years of his life knowing he could not share this award with me.”
Directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee. Photo: BAFTA.
BEST ANIMATED FILM: Frozen
“We would love to thank BAFTA and also our cast and crew. There were about 600 people on this one.” (Chris Buck).
Photo: BAFTA.
BEST LEADING ACTOR: Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
“I want to start with Steve McQueen. Thank you… This is yours – we all know that. I’m going to keep it. But it’s yours… I want to thank my mother who is here, I love you. My late father, who is not, I love you too.”
Photo: BAFTA.
BEST LEADING ACTRESS: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
“I would like to dedicate this to an actor who has been such an presence but now an absence to me, the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman. Your unflinching quest for truth in art and life will be sorely missed not only by those here but the audiences who loved your work. All we can do is keep trying to raise the bar continually in your absence. Phil, buddy, this is for you, you bastard, hope you’re proud.”
Photo: BAFTA.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
“I want to thank Paul Greengrass for believing in me before I believed in myself. I want to thank Tom Hanks… Last but not least, I want to thank the other pirates in the film, my friends. We came from nothing and we get this.”
Jennifer Lawrence was not in attendance. Tsk tsk.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
“Jennifer asked me to thank everyone here, she’s sorry she’s working.” (Director David O. Russell accepting on Lawrence’s behalf).
Photo: BAFTA.
BEST DIRECTOR: Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity
“You can’t tell from my accent but I consider myself part of the British film industry. I’ve lived in London for the last 13 years and I have made almost half my films [here]. I guess I make a good case for curbing immigration.”
Photo: BAFTA.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: American Hustle by Eric Warren Singer, David O. Russell
“I was breastfed from a very young age on British cinema. It has been a huge part of my life, so thank you BAFTA!” (Eric Singer)
Photo: BAFTA.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Philomena by Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope
“We couldn’t have done [this] without a lot of people… Stephen Frears, our cinematographer, but also the woman who brought Philomena to life onscreen, my dream casting and someone I’ve fallen in love with, Dame Judi Dench.” (Steve Coogan).
