Best of British: BAFTAs 2014
12 Years a Slave named best film, but Gravity tops the table with six awards at this year’s BAFTAs.
British director Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave took best film and best actor for Londoner Chiwetel Ejiofor at this year’s British Academy Film Awards. With a total of six prizes, Gravity was the night’s most-awarded film, sweeping up in four technical categories as well as the gongs for outstanding British film and best director for Alfonso Cuarón. When receiving the best director award Cuarón said "I consider myself a part of the British film industry," he added, highlighting his living in London for 13 years: "I guess I make a good case for curbing immigration."
Gravity’s technical wins included recognition for best visual effects, best cinematography, best music and best sound. The film had a British producer David Heyman, was shot at Shepperton Studios hiring British artists and technicians, and used British Company Framestore for its visual effects.
The best adapted screenplay award went to Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope for Philomena, which they adapted from Martin Sixsmith’s book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee.
With such a broad range of UK talent being recognised, from Clio Barnard's The Selfish Giant, Paul Greengrass’ Captain Philips and the UK-produced Rush to bright new talents in Paul Wright, Kieran Evans, Will Poulter and George MacKay being recognised alongside Peter Greenaway for his outstanding contribution to film and Dame Helen Mirren being awarded a BAFTA Fellowship, UK films and filmmakers have given the industry much to be proud of.
