Female directors Chloe Zhao and Emerald Fennell take top honours at this year’s BAFTA film awards
Chinese director Chloe Zhao’s intimate portrayal of marginalised Americans in Nomadland won big at the awards’ most unconventional ceremony yet.
With Zoom acceptance speeches, a sparse and socially-distanced red carpet and the most diverse and female-strong nominee line-up in its history, the 74th BAFTA Awards was anything but usual.
Nomadland swept the awards pool, with the Zhao-directed film winning four awards including best actress (Frances McDormand), best director and best film.
Zhao, who appeared virtually from Los Angeles, was one of four women nominated in the best director category.
“We brought in changes to the awards to level the playing field,” said Krishnendu Majumdar, chair of the Academy, following criticism over last year’s awards ceremony which had no women directors and an all-white shortlist.
Zhao welcomed stronger representation for women filmmakers in comments to journalists afterwards, saying: “It’s about time, it’s great.” “I love doing what I do and if this means more people like me get to live their dreams, I’m very grateful”.
British director Emerald Fennell also carried off two awards for her debut feature, Promising Young Woman starring Carey Mulligan.
The Oscar-tipped thriller is about a woman who avenges a friend’s rape by pretending to be drunk in bars and then turning the tables on men who prey on her.
The film, which has elements of comedy and horror, won for outstanding British film and original screenplay.
Sitting in front of a grand piano in a gauzy white dress, Fennell described the film as a “labour of love”.
“It was the greatest thing in my life making this film,” she said. The film is nominated for Oscars for best director and best original screenplay, while Mulligan is nominated for best actor.
Nomadland star McDormand sent a written message in response to her best actress win, saying: “Thank you, dear British people.” Nomadland is one of the frontrunners for this month’s Oscar awards, with six nominations including for best picture, best director and best actress.
Last month it won coveted Golden Globe awards for best drama film and best director.
Welsh actor Sir Anthony Hopkins won the best actor BAFTA for The Father about a man suffering from dementia, directed by France’s Florian Zeller.
The 83-year-old didn’t appear during the ceremony but spoke to journalists afterwards, explaining that he had not expected to win and had been holidaying in Wales and painting in his hotel room.
“This is wonderful, I mean, this is the first time in my life when I never expected to get this,” he said, calling his fourth BAFTA a “fun bonus”.
While award nominees have all but perfected the art of a backyard photo shoot, a smattering of stars were granted a red carpet stroll in their capacities as awards presenters including Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Bridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor.
Dynevor shone in a black one-shouldered custom Louis Vuitton gown, with fellow presenter Cynthia Erivo donning a short metallic design from the fashion house’s fall 2021 collection.
Kingsman actor Sophie Cookson looked elegant in a long-sleeved, black Emporio Armani gown, as did singer Celeste, in custom Gucci.
Nominees including Niamh Algar and Dominique Fishback dressed up for their virtual appearances, with Algar sporting a bold orange gown by Maison Valentino.
One of the award presenters, comedian Youssef Kerkour described the stripped-back ceremony as “diet BAFTA”.
Prince William had been due to participate in the ceremony, but he pulled out following the death of his grandfather Prince Philip, the Queen’s husband.
Hollywood star Renee Zellweger made a virtual appearance from Los Angeles in a dramatic silver gown to present the leading actor award.
Hugh Grant awarded the prestigious BAFTA Academy Fellowship to double Oscar-winning director Ang Lee, perhaps best known for Brokeback Mountain and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, describing his career as “almost preposterously successful”.
“I’m humbled to be counted among such brilliant filmmakers,” said the Taiwanese film director.
The ceremony was held over two days for the first time, with technical awards on Saturday.
On Saturday, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, a film about a blues musician in 1920s Chicago, took home two technical BAFTAs for costume design and make-up and hair.
Rocks and Mank, a depiction of a debauched screenwriter during Hollywood’s golden age, also bagged a prize each for casting and production design respectively.
Other winners in the technical awards included Christopher Nolan’s science fiction action-thriller Tenet for special visual effects and Sound of Metal, starring British actor Riz Ahmed, for sound.
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THE WINNERS:
Best film: Nomadland
Best leading actress: Frances McDormand, Nomadland
Best leading actor: Anthony Hopkins, The Father
Best supporting actress: Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari
Best supporting actor: Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah
Outstanding British film: Promising Young Woman
Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer: His House
Best film not in the English language: Another Round
Best documentary: My Octopus Teacher
Best animated film: Soul
Best director: Chloe Zhao, Nomadland
Best original screenplay: Promising Young Woman
Best adapted screenplay: The Father