Just in:
Experience Ultimate Shopping Freedom at 4.4 Shopee Spree: Don’t Worry, Shop Shopee! // Andertoons by Mark Anderson for Thu, 28 Mar 2024 // TUMI Hosts Global Launch Event in Singapore to Unveil Women’s Asra Collection and Announce Global Ambassador, Mun Ka Young // AIA Hong Kong Wins More Than 20 Accolades at MPF Ratings MPF Awards, BENCHMARK MPF of The Year Awards and Bloomberg Businessweek Top Fund Awards // US reiterates concern over Kejriwal arrest, Cong accounts // No running of govt from jail, says Delhi Lt Governor // French Leaders Gather for Interfaith Iftar Dinner // Sharjah Chamber Breaks Ground on Final Expansion with New HQ Pact // German Job Market Resilience Bodes Well for Economic Recovery // Universal Language for Healthcare: General Authority Embraces Global Coding System // Samsung Partners National Heritage Board to Bring a Slice of Singapore’s Cultural Heritage to Samsung The Frame TV // 2024 Lok Sabha Elections Will Be The Costliest One Till Now In The Whole World // Infineon and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering jointly develop ship electrification technology // Samsung Electronics Launches 2024 Neo QLED 8K, Neo QLED, and OLED Displays to Spark the AI Screen Era // First-Ever Fortune Innovation Forum Draws Top Global Leaders to Hong Kong, Promoting Agendas On Collective Cross-Sector Advancement // Hong Kong Crypto Exchange Application Stalled by US Lawsuit // Ajman Celebrates Conclusion of Ramadan Activities with Grand Ceremony // CABSAT 2024 Ushers in 30 Years of Media Innovation // U.S. Compliance Takes Center Stage at OKX Following Industry Jitters // Global Audience to Witness Thrill of Dubai World Cup //
HomeArts & CultureLa La Land waltzes off with five Bafta awards

La La Land waltzes off with five Bafta awards

1486992324 AR 170219690

La La Land was the big winner at the 70th British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) film awards on Sunday night, the last big awards ceremony before the Oscars on February 26.

The main Bafta nominations closely followed the Oscars’ list, with La La Land leading the pack with 11 nods (compared with 14 at the Oscars). Arrival had nine nods and Manchester by the Sea six.

ADVERTISEMENT

As usual, there was also a strong focus on British talent, especially reflected in categories such as Best British Film and Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.

There was some regional interest in both of these categories – Babak Anvari’s Dubai co-produced horror Under the Shadow, set in Tehran in the 1980s during the Iran-Iraq War, was nominated for both.

The celebs started arriving on the red carpet at about 4.15pm UK time (8.15pm in the UAE) for the 6.45pm ceremony. Here are a few of the key moments.

The opening

In recent years, the Oscars has sparked much debate and controversy about how good a job the Oscars host has done, from Hugh Jackman’s sterling effort in 2009 to Seth MacFarlane’s poorly received 2013 stint.

ADVERTISEMENT

No such uncertainty at the Baftas, with British national treasure Stephen Fry a fixture at the event. This was his 12th time hosting since his 2001 debut, and he was as reliable as ever.

After a jarring bit of on-screen product placement by the main sponsor, telecommunications company EE, featuring mobile phones in films to remind the audience to switch their phones off, Fry quickly got the audience on side with a gentle political dig at US president Donald Trump, noting that “only a blithering idiot” would think Meryl Streep wasn’t an incredible actress. He then continued his annual “Bafta Valentine’s kiss” tradition with the Hollywood legend, and it was smooth sailing from thereon in. Good start.

Political statements

It was bound to happen and the stars did not disappoint, with plenty of critical comments about the new American president. Surely a taster of even more criticism to come at the Oscars this month. A couple of winners took an alternative political approach.

Ken Loach, picking up the Best British Film award for his socially conscious drama I, Daniel Blake berated the UK government for the “callous brutality with which it treats its most vulnerable people”, as well as those seeking to enter the country. He ended with the statement:

“Filmmakers know which side they’re on, and despite the glitz and the glamour of occasions like this, we’re with the people.”

On a more light-hearted note, La La Land composer Justin Hurwitz picked up his Best Music Award by thanking Russia for hacking the Bafta vote so he could win, a reference to claims that Russia had influenced the US presidential election.

Best Actress in a Leading Role winner Emma Stone, for her role in La La Land, got in on the act, too, urging us to use creativity to fight a “divisive world and transcend borders”.

Regional interest

We were thrilled to see Under the Shadow’s team of Babak Anvari (writer/director), Emily Leo, Oliver Roskill and Lucan Toh (producers) pick up the award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer. Anvari took time, direct from the ceremony to give The National a brief exclusive statement via phone. “What an honour, thank you Bafta. Is that too boring?” he asked, perhaps a little overwhelmed.

The big winners

La La Land picked up five awards. As well as Stone and Hurwitz’s honours, it won Best Film, Best Cinematography and Damian Chazelle won Best Direction.

Manchester by the Sea won two awards – Casey Affleck for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Kenneth Lonergan for Best Original Screenplay, as did true-life adoption drama Lion (Dev Patel receiving Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Luke Davies getting Best Adapted Screenplay).

The grand finale

For the night’s final, previously announced award, Simon Pegg and Nathan Lane took to the stage to present the honorary Bafta Fellowship to comedian and filmmaker Mel Brooks, who joins the likes of Charlie Chaplin and Alfred Hitchcock in the Academy’s hall of fame. Prince William presented the award.

Roll of honour

Other winners included Viola Davis, who received the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Denzel Washington’s drama Fences, new Spider-Man Tom Holland, who received the Rising Star Award, and Hungarian Holocaust drama Son of Saul, which won Best Foreign Language Film.

[email protected]

Source link

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT
Just in:
Global Audience to Witness Thrill of Dubai World Cup // Experience Ultimate Shopping Freedom at 4.4 Shopee Spree: Don’t Worry, Shop Shopee! // Saudi Arabia Unveils Green Financing Tool to Achieve Net-Zero Goals // Ajman Celebrates Conclusion of Ramadan Activities with Grand Ceremony // Following the Money Trail: US and UK Investigate $20 Billion in USDT Transfers Tied to Sanctioned Russian Exchange // Samsung Electronics Launches 2024 Neo QLED 8K, Neo QLED, and OLED Displays to Spark the AI Screen Era // 2024 Lok Sabha Elections Will Be The Costliest One Till Now In The Whole World // Melco Style Presents “SANRIO CHARACTERS STUDIO CITY CARNIVAL” – Explore a SANRIO World of Unlimited Love and Cuteness // Digital Hub Unveiled: Xposure Launches Platform for Global Photography Community // No running of govt from jail, says Delhi Lt Governor // CABSAT 2024 Ushers in 30 Years of Media Innovation // German Job Market Resilience Bodes Well for Economic Recovery // TUMI Hosts Global Launch Event in Singapore to Unveil Women’s Asra Collection and Announce Global Ambassador, Mun Ka Young // Samsung Partners National Heritage Board to Bring a Slice of Singapore’s Cultural Heritage to Samsung The Frame TV // Emirati Aid Reaches Ukraine as Food Shortages Bite // Hong Kong Crypto Exchange Application Stalled by US Lawsuit // New Nylon Constant Torque Hinge From Southco Provides Position Control In A Compact Package // U.S. Compliance Takes Center Stage at OKX Following Industry Jitters // Infineon and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering jointly develop ship electrification technology // Sunshine’s Debut Features Leave Tech World Scratching Its Head //