While music lovers gathered around their televisions on Sunday night for the annual Grammy Awards, film addicts tuned in on the same evening for the EE British Academy Film Awards (Baftas). The UK equivalent of the Academy Awards was unsurprisingly dominated by ubiquitous musical, “La La Land” which took home five trophies including the award for best film, best actress for Emma Stone, and best director for Damien Chazelle. There were other parallel wins to American ceremonies, Viola Davis, who recently nabbed the award for best supporting actress for “Fences” at the Golden Globes, claimed the same title at the Baftas as did Casey Affleck who was honored with best actor at both awards shows for Manchester by the Sea.
Overlaps between the American and British honors did not continue for all of the nominations, Unlike the Golden Globes and the upcoming Oscars, Denzel Washington was not included at all in the category for best actor for “Fences.” Manchester by the Sea” also won for best original screenplay (an honor claimed by “La La Land” at the Globes). Best adapted screenplay went to “Lion,” as did best supporting performance for star, Dev Patel. Best British film went “I, Daniel Blake.”
Britain lived up to its polite reputation at the Baftas. At the same time that A Tribe Called Quest and Katy Perry were staging overtly political performances at the Grammys, winners at the Baftas were giving acceptance speeches that largely steered clear of politics. This year, American awards shows have been colored by opinions on the president.
Golden Globe coverage was dominated by Meryl Streep’s speech opposing Trump and at the Screen Actors’ Guild Awards, there were hardly any neutral podium statements. While it’s true that Trump is an American president, not a British politician, it seems surprising that an award ceremony in a country that recently launched a 500,000 signature petition to deny Trump a state visit to the UK, would be so demure. Some of the exceptions at the Baftas included Kenneth Lonergan. The “Manchester by the Sea” writer lauded his daughter for protesting Trump. “I, Daniel Blake” director Ken Loach, criticized the British government for the “callous brutality” of its treatment of impoverished people and refugees.
Host Stephen Fry, referenced Trump’s comments against Meryl Streep in his first speech of the night which made mention of her as “one of the greatest actresses of all time” and noted that “only a blithering idiot would think otherwise.” Big winner of the night, Emma Stone, talked politics and positivity, stating “Right now this country, the United States and the world is going through a bit of a time. In a time that’s so divisive, I think it’s really special that we were all able to come together tonight, thanks to BAFTA, to celebrate the positive gift of creativity, and how it can transcend borders and how it can help people to feel a little less alone.”
See the full list of Bafta winners below.
Outstanding British film
I, Daniel Blake
EE Rising Star award
Tom Holland
Best make up & hair:
Florence Foster Jenkins
Best original music
La La Land
Best costume design
Jackie
Best sound
Arrival
Best British short animation
A Love Story
Best British short film
Home
Best editing
Hacksaw Ridge
Best production design
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Best documentary
13th
Best film not in the English language
Son of Saul
Best adapted screenplay
Lion
Best supporting actress
Viola Davis (Fences)
Best animated film
Kubo and the Two Strings
Best special visual effects
The Jungle Book
Best debut by a British writer, director or producer
Under the Shadow – Babak Anvari (writer/director), Emily Leo, Oliver Roskill, Lucan Toh (producers)
Best supporting actor
Dev Patel (Lion)
Outstanding British contribution to cinema
Curzon Group
Best original screenplay
Manchester By the Sea
Best cinematography
La La Land
Best actor
Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea)
Best director
Damien Chazelle (La La Land)
Best actress
Emma Stone (La La Land)
Best film
La La Land
Bafta fellowship
Mel Brooks