The 2021 EE British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs)presented over two ceremonies in one weekend, celebrated the very best in film of the past year.
Sunday’s ceremony, hosted by Edith Bowman and Dermot O’Leary, was held at London’s Royal Albert Hall with nominees attending virtually. The show included three featured musical performances: by Liam Payne, Celeste, and Leslie Odom Jr. (from Los Angeles) and Corinne Bailey Rae.
Nomadland won four BAFTAs: Best Film, Director for Chloé Zhao, Leading Actress for Frances McDormand, and Cinematography for Joshua James Richards.
Promising Young Woman won BAFTAs: Outstanding British Film, and Original Screenplay for Emerald Fennell.
The Father won two BAFTAs: Leading Actor for Anthony Hopkins, and Adapted Screenplay for Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller. This is surprising, yet not since it is the British Awards, that Chadwick Boseman did not win. We are still sticking with our best for Boseman to win a Post-Humous Award at the Oscars.
Supporting Actor was won by Daniel Kaluuya for Judas and the Black Messiah.
Supporting Actress was awarded to Yuh-Jung Youn for Minari.
Soul won Animated Film and Original Score. Another Round won Film Not in the English Language.
Sound of Metal won Editing and Sound. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom won Costume Design and Make Up & Hair.
Writer/director Remi Weekes received the award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for His House.
My Octopus Teacher won Documentary, Rocks won Casting, Tenet won Special Visual Effects and Mank won Production Design.
The Present won the BAFTAs for British Short Film award, while the BAFTA for British Short Animation was won by The Owl and the Pussycat.
The Special Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema was presented to filmmaker Noel Clarke.
The Fellowship, the highest honor the Academy can bestow, was introduced by Hugh Grant and presented to director Ang Lee.
The EE Rising Star Award, voted for by the public, went to Bukky Bakray.
RELATED: Chloé Zhao wins DGA Award for Nomadland
On Saturday 10 April, the ‘Opening Night’ ceremony was hosted Clara Amfo, who was joined by guests Rhianna Dhillon and Joanna Scanlan at the Royal Albert Hall. The program gave audiences an in-depth insight into the filmmaking process, and the winners in eight categories were revealed. The show was broadcast on BBC Two and BBC Two HD.
As part of BAFTA’s year-round programme of learning events and initiatives, 50 of this year’s nominees across 10 categories took part in ‘BAFTA Film: The Sessions’ from 22 March – 1 April. The Sessions saw the nominees discuss their craft in interviews that are available online on the BAFTA Guru YouTube channel at http://bit.ly/BaftaFilmSessions2021.
Other year-round film activity includes initiatives such as BAFTA’s new talent activity including the scholarships program, BAFTA Crew, BAFTA Elevate, as well as masterclasses, the David Lean Lecture delivered by a leading film director, and the ‘BAFTA A Life in Pictures’ series.
After tonight’s BAFTAs, Nomadland and Chloé Zhao seem like the safest bets now to win Best Picture and Best Director, respectively, when the 2021 Academy Awards air on ABC this April 25.