On February 7th 2009 the 6th Annual Screen Nation Awards were held at the prestigious BAFTA venue in Piccadilly. The awards aim is to celebrate diversity and recognise talent within Film and Television and was hosted by TV presenter and actress Josie D’Arby and award winning comedian Eddie Kadi. The night was full of famous faces including Jocelyn Jee Esien, Ashley Walters (who also picked up the Male Performance in Film Award), Big Brother contestant Darnell, Aml Ameen, Yolanda Brown and Eastenders Actress Tiana Benjamin (who was awarded the Favourite Female TV Star).
Among those collecting awards were Writer, Director and Actor Noel Clarke for his film Adulthood which won the Achievement in Film Production Award. Adam Deacon also collected a gong as the winner of the Young Shooting Star Award and The Bill received the Diversity in Drama Award. Newcomer Nonso Anozie received the Emerging Talent Award for his leading role in the 2008 film CASS. The film depicted the life of football hooligan-turned-author Cass Pennant, who during the 1970’s was one of the most feared and respected men in Britain.
The night also recognised our veteran talents including Whoopi Goldberg who picked up Outstanding Contribution Award, Don Warrington who received the Edric Connor Inspiration Award and Hair and Make-up artist Sharon Martin who was awared the Vanguard in Hair & Makeup. Sharon has worked on number of Hollywood films including The Last King of Scotland, Blood Diamond and the forthcoming Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer epic The Prince of Persia. Trix Worrell (creator of the hit TV show Desmond’s) was also given the Vanguard in Production Award.
The evening however wasn’t without a few setbacks which were difficult to overlook as teething problems since the ceremony is now in its 6th year. They included Jocelyn Jee Esien and Mohammed George (Gus from Eastenders) being unable to tell us who won the Emerging Talent Award, as the envelope didn’t contain the name of the winner. UK Rapper Sway and Saxophonist Yolanda Brown suffered technical difficulties when it came to performing their songs. However these mishaps were swiftly covered by host Eddie Kadi as he proved to be the ceremony’s saviour and his quick-thinking and pure comic genius kept the laughs coming thick and fast.
This year’s event almost didn’t happen as a major funder pulled-out late last year but CEO and Founder of Screen Nation Charles Thompson, did an outstanding job at ensuring the event still went ahead. The Screen Nation Awards has become a renowned event on the Black Entertainment calendar and our only hope is that it continues to grow from strength to strength.
Full Winners List
Outstanding Contribution – WHOOPI GOLDBERG
Edric Connor Inspiration – DON WARRINGTON
Vanguard in Production – TRIX WORRELL
Vanguard in Hair & Makeup – SHARON MARTIN
Achievement in Film Production – ADULTHOOD
Achievement in African Film Production – JERUSALEMA
Male Performance in Film – ASHLEY WALTERS
Male Performance in TV – DAVID OYELOWO
Female Performance in TV – NAOMI HARRIS
Favourite Male TV Star (PUBLIC VOTING) – HUGH QUARSHIE
Favourite Female TV Star (PUBLIC VOTING) – TIANA BENJAMIN
Independent Spirit Film Production – MELVIN: CHRONICLES OF A PLAYER – LAWRENCE COKE
Diversity in Factual Production – BLACK POWER SALUTE
Diversity in Drama Production – THE BILL
Best Music Performance on Film/TV (PUBLIC VOTING) – BASHY
Achievement in Screenwriting – ROY WILLIAMS (FALLOUT
Emerging Talent – NONSO ANOZIE
Young Shooting Star – ADAM DEACON
