Just before the Cesar and the American Oscars, the world of cinema met in London for a first award ceremony this Sunday evening. The films “In the West, nothing new” and “The Banshees of Inisherin” began their harvest on Sunday evening at the Bafta, the British film awards.
German Edward Berger won the prize for best director for “In the West, nothing new” (four Bafta in total), a film about a young German soldier during the First World War. Named in 14 categories in total, he dominated the nominations of this 76th Bafta ceremony, which was held at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Produced by Netflix and directed by German Edward Berger, 53, it notably won the prize for best filmin front of “The Banshees of Inisherin,” “Elvis,” “Everything Everywhere All At Once” and “Tar.”
This Netflix adaptation of Érich Maria Remarque’s famous 1929 pacifist novel – one of the most influential works of anti-militarist literature – equals “Tiger and Dragon” (2000) for the number of nominations for a film made in a language other than English. English. She is also multi-nominated for the Oscars next month.
Also among the favorites was the Irish tragicomedy ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’, which scooped three Golden Globes in Los Angeles last month. Nominated ten times, the film collected four Bafta: best original screenplay, best British film and the two titles of best supporting role (male and female). Irishman Colin Farrell brilliantly plays a local pub regular devastated by the sudden breakdown of a friendship on an imaginary island in the 1920s.
A tribute to Queen Elizabeth II
As for individual awards, the Australian-American Cate Blanchett won the prize for the best actress for her role as a ruthless conductor in “Tar”. The 53-year-old actress won the award ahead of Viola Davis, Danielle Deadwyler, Ana De Armas, Emma Thompson and Michelle Yeoh.
Among the men, it was the American Austin Butler who won the prize for best actor for his role in the biopic “Elvis” about the rock ‘n roll legend. The 31-year-old actor won ahead of Colin Farrell, Brendan Fraser, Daryl McCormack, Paul Mescal and Bill Nighy. The Franco-British Emma Mackeyknown for her role in the Netlfix series “Sex Education” and the film “Eiffel” with Romain Duris, won the Rising Star Award which reward new talent.
Guillermo del Toro walks away with the prize best animated film with “Pinocchio”. The Mexican director skillfully mixes animation, poetry, fantastic cinema and historical narrative with his adaptation of Carlo Collodi’s tale.
Finally, the price of best documentary was awarded to “Navalny”, dedicated to the Russian opponent Alexeï Navalny, and one of the main protagonists of which was unable to attend the ceremony for security reasons. Producer Odessa Rae has paid tribute to investigative journalist Christo Grozev, who appears in the documentary, and was unable to be in London on Sunday evening. “He gave up everything to tell this story and other stories that need to be told,” she said.
More than five months after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Helen Mirren has presented a tribute to the monarch. The 77-year-old actress had won an Oscar and a Bafta for her portrayal of the sovereign in the film “The Queen” in 2006. Prince William, the queen’s grandson and president of the Bafta since 2010, attended the ceremony with his wife Kate for the first time since 2019.