WINNERS ANNOUNCED: EE British Academy Film Awards

Mad Max: Fury Road won four awards for its return to the big screen: Costume Design, Production Design, Make Up & Hair and Editing.

The Awards were hosted for an eleventh year by Stephen Fry and held at London’s Royal Opera House. In a ceremony that reflected an outstanding year of filmmaking, 12 further features received BAFTA awards:

Leading Actress was presented to Brie Larson for her portrayal of a young mother held captive in Room, while the award for Supporting Actress went to Kate Winslet for her performance in Steve Jobs. Mark Rylance received the BAFTA for Supporting Actor inBridge of Spies, with Steven Spielberg onstage to accept the award on his behalf.

The award for Outstanding British Film went to Brooklyn, a transatlantic love story about a young woman caught between a future in New York and her home in Ireland. British filmAmy triumphed against domestic and international competition to receive the BAFTA forDocumentary.

The award for Original Music went to Ennio Morricone for his work on The Hateful Eight, marking the composer’s sixth BAFTA in this category. Spotlight was successful in the Original Screenplay category, and the BAFTA for Adapted Screenplay went to The Big Short.

The award for Special Visual Effects went to Star Wars for its rendering of a galaxy far, far away, while the BAFTA for Animated Film went to Inside Out for its imagining of a world much closer to home.

Writer-Director Naji Abu Nowar and Producer Rupert Lloyd received the award forOutstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for their first feature, Theeb. The BAFTA for Film Not in the English Language was presented to Argentinian film Wild Tales.

Operator won the British Short Film award, while the BAFTA for British Short Animation was presented to Edmond.

The EE Rising Star Award, voted for by the public, was presented to John Boyega.

The special award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema was presented to Angels Costumes, the world’s longest-established and largest professional costume house, in their 175th year.

Sir Sidney Poitier received the Fellowship, the highest accolade that BAFTA can bestow, in recognition of his outstanding career in film. Sir Sidney’s award was presented to him by Jamie Foxx and his daughter, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, in his Los Angeles home. During the ceremony filmed tributes were given by Oprah Winfrey, Noel Clarke and his To Sir, With Love co-star, Lulu.

As part of BAFTA’s year-round programme of events and initiatives, many of this year’s nominees took part in a ‘BAFTA Film: The Sessions’ event on Saturday at Picturehouse Central. Nominees took to the stage to discuss their work with students and emerging talent. In addition, this year’s nominated British Short Film and British Short Animationfilmmakers will take part in Q&A sessions at select UK and international theatrical screenings of their films, which BAFTA is delivering in partnership with the Independent Cinema Office (ICO) and the British Council. Other year-round film activity includes scholarships and masterclasses as well as the David Lean Lecture by a leading film director and ‘A Life in Pictures’ career retrospectives. To access the best creative minds in film, TV and games production, visit www.bafta.org/guru. For more, visit www.bafta.org.