a man sold into slavery, was the big winner at the Baftas on
Sunday, giving the Steve McQueen directed picture a huge
pre-Oscars boost.
The film, adapted from Solomon Northup's 1853 memoir,
took the coveted best film prize at a star-studded ceremony at
London's Royal Opera House.
It scored an earlier success when British actor Chiwetel
Ejiofor, who portrays free black man Northup as he is
kidnapped and enslaved in the United States, walked away
with the best actor prize.
Chiwetel Ejiofor poses with the award AFP PHOTO
Ejiofor said he was "so deeply honoured and privileged" to
receive the award and praised McQueen.
"This is yours by the way, I know that, you know that," he
told the director. "I'm going to keep it but it's yours".
London-born McQueen used his acceptance speech to thank
his "one and only mother" and to highlight the issue of
modern day slavery.
"There are 21 million people in slavery as we sit here," he
explained. "I just hope 150 years from now our ambivalence
will not allow another film-maker to make this film".
McQueen's work beat off competition from crime-comedy
"American Hustle", pirate drama "Captain Phillips", space
sci-fi thriller "Gravity" and "Philomena", the tale of an
Irishwoman searching for a son taken by nuns.
However, "Philomena" did win in the adapted screenplay
category. Leading actor Steve Coogan praised the "real
Philomena Lee", revealing that she was in the audience.
Rising star Jennifer Lawrence won the best supporting actress
award for her role in "American Hustle" and Barkhad Abdi
claimed the best supporting actor prize for his portrayal of a
Somali pirate in "Captain Phillips".
McQueen missed out on the best director award, which
instead went to Mexican Alfonso Cuaron for "Gravity".
Accepting his award, he said: "You can not tell from my
accent but I consider myself a part of the British film
industry".
The stellar adventure enjoyed a hugely successful evening,
receiving six prizes.
Australian Cate Blanchett paid tribute to late colleague Philip
Seymour Hoffman, calling him "a continual profound
touchstone", as she claimed her best actress award for her part
in Woody Allen's "Blue Jasmine".
"Phil, buddy, this is for you, you bastard," she said. "I hope
you're proud."
- Jolie surprise appearance -
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards are
the highlight of the British film calendar and a useful guide to
which way the Academy Awards might go on March 2.
Hollywood stars including Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
rubbed shoulders with British royalty at the glitzy ceremony.
The superstar couple made an unexpected appearance on the
red carpet in matching tuxedos and signed autographs for
hordes of fans camped outside the venue.
Bafta president Prince William was also at the ceremony,
which was hosted for a ninth time by actor Stephen Fry.
He opened proceedings with a tribute to Helen Mirren, who
received Bafta's highest accolade, the Academy Fellowship
"in recognition of her exceptional contribution to film".
Mirren, who has played Elizabeth II on stage and screen, was
presented with the award by William, who called her "an
extremely talented British actress who I should probably call
granny".
The 68-year-old actress quoted Shakespeare's Tempest during
her acceptance speech.
"We are such stuff as dreams are made on and our little life is
rounded with a sleep," she said.
"My little life is rounded with this honour, thank you very
much indeed."
The British capital has recently suffered freak storms, but
conditions were fine if cold on Sunday, allowing stars to
dazzle on the red carpet.
Mirren wore a navy blue dress with chiffon sleeves while
fellow dame Judi Dench, nominated for best actress, wore a
dark velvet gown with turquoise cuffs.
Oscar-winner Emma Thompson arrived wrapped up in a red
dress and white coat with a huge furry collar, while
"American Hustle" star Amy Adams posed for photographers
in a floor-length black gown from Victoria Beckham.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Christian Bale and Tom Hanks, all
nominated in the Best Actor category, were also in London
for the event.
BAFTAs 2014 winners
Best Film – 12 Years A Slave
Outstanding British Film — "Gravity"
Director — Alfonso Cuaron, "Gravity"
Actor — Chiwetel Ejiofor, "12 Years a Slave"
Actress — Cate Blanchett, "Blue Jasmine"
Supporting Actor — Barkhad Abdi, "Captain Phillips"
Supporting Actress — Jennifer Lawrence, "American Hustle"
Rising Star — Will Poulter
Original Screenplay — Eric Warren Singer and David O.
Russell, "American Hustle"
Adapted Screenplay — Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope,
"Philomena"
Film Not in the English Language — "The Great Beauty"
Music — "Gravity"
Cinematography — "Gravity"
Editing — "Rush"
Production Design — "The Great Gatsby"
Costume Design — "The Great Gatsby"
Sound — "Gravity"
Visual Effects — "Gravity"
Makeup and Hair — "American Hustle"
Animated Feature — "Frozen"
Short Film — "Room 8"
Short Animation — "Sleeping With the Fishes"
Documentary — "The Act of Killing"
Outstanding Contribution to British Cinema — Peter
Greenaway
Academy Fellowship — Helen Mirren
British Debut — Writer-director Kieran Evans, "Kelly +
Victor"
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