There are no big surprises at the Bafta Awards. While “The Power Of The Dog” gets the most coveted awards, “Dune” gets the most. The evening is disappointing for the 007 producers.
LONDON – Director Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic ‘Dune’ has picked up five awards at the British Film Awards ceremony, known as the Baftas, on Sunday.
The two most coveted trophies went to Jane Campion’s Western drama The Power Of The Dog, which won Best Picture. Campion, 67, who was absent from the glamorous ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall, also received the Bafta for directing. Kenneth Branagh’s critically acclaimed coming-of-age film ‘Belfast’ won the prestigious Outstanding British Film award. “The cinema is alive,” Branagh cheered.
Two weeks before the Oscars in Los Angeles, US actor Will Smith was awarded Best Actor for “King Richard”, a film about the Williams sisters, but he was also missed in London. British actress Joanna Scanlan was delighted to receive the Best Actress award, beating out Lady Gaga (“House Of Gucci”) and Tessa Thompson (“Change of Side”), among others. Scanlan fought back tears as she spoke.
“Dune” clears up
The awards for the supporting roles went to Ariana Debose (“West Side Story”) and the American Troy Kotsur (“Coda”), who became the first deaf actor to receive a Bafta.
“Dune”, nominated eleven times and thus the most frequently, won as expected in the categories camera, editing and sound. The film music by the German composer Hans Zimmer was also awarded. Zimmer is currently on tour in Germany and played a concert in Stuttgart on the day of the award ceremony.
An international team led by the German special effects artist Gerd Nefzer, who received a Bafta for “Blade Runner 2049” in 2018, was delighted with the trophy for the visual effects in “Dune”. “It feels even better the second time around,” joked Nefzer, who is already working with his team on the Dune sequel.
“Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” was chosen as the best documentary. It is the directorial debut of Ahmir Thompson, better known as Questlove. He is the drummer for the group The Roots, which is also the house band of US show host Jimmy Fallon. The overjoyed winner was therefore unable to celebrate. “I have to go straight to the airport because I have to be at work tomorrow,” said Questlove, who had long lived in London. “I have to be on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.”
The glamorous award ceremony was opened by Dame Shirley Bassey. To mark the 60th anniversary of the James Bond films, the 85-year-old sang her 007 theme song “Diamonds Are Forever”. For her performance at the Royal Albert Hall, the diva earned a standing ovation from guests, including Bond producer duo Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson and Bond girl Léa Seydoux.
Bond falls short of expectations
The Bond makers’ hopes for the coveted trophy for Outstanding British Film were not fulfilled. Nominated five times, No Time to Die received only a single editing award. The duo Tom Cross and Elliot Graham dedicated their Bafta to the editor and director Peter Hunt, who died in 2002. No” was responsible for editing.
London actress Lashana Lynch, who plays Daniel Craig’s fellow agent in No Time To Die, was honored with the Rising Star Award in the special category. Best Adapted Screenplay was “Coda”, Best Original Screenplay was “Licorice Pizza”. The Disney film “Encanto”, which is peppered with many catchy tunes, received the golden Bafta mask for the best animated film.
The London-based British Academy of Film and Television Arts celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. It was also “the last show,” joked presenter Rebel Wilson, who led through the award ceremony with numerous jokes. After the Oscars and the Golden Globes, the Bafta Awards are among the most coveted prizes in the industry. A pointer to the Oscars, they have recently been rather rare. “The Power Of The Dog” is also a favorite in Los Angeles. dpa
