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The 2023 EE British Academy Film Awards kicked off at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday night, with favourites including The Banshees of Inisherin and All Quiet On The Western Front battling it out for the top prize.
The ceremony was hosted by actor Richard E Grant and presenter Alison Hammond, following a star-studded red carpet featuring guests Florence Pugh, Lily James and Jodie Turner-Smith.
Nominations for the 2023 ceremony were announced last month, with Netflix’s anti-war epic All Quiet On The Western Front leading the pack with 14 nods.
The movie, directed by German filmmaker Edward Berger and based on the 1929 novel of the same name by Erich Maria Remarque, has received nods for top gongs including best film, best director and best film not in the English language.
As the ceremony got underway, Carey Mulligan was incorrectly announced as the winner of the Supporting Actress award after a translation gaffe while deaf actor Troy Kotsur was presenting.
Amazing! Kerry Condon was awarded Best Supporting Actress for The Banshees of Inisherin, after an unaired gaffe which saw the wrong winner of the award announced
Oops! Oscar-winner Kotsur was delivering the announcement by sign language before a miscommunication resulted in Mulligan’s name being called for her performance in She Said
 Elated: Taking to the stage, Condon paid tribute to director Martin McDonagh, adding: ‘Thank you for all the parts you gave me throughout my career. You make me so proud to be an Irish woman’
Sensational! After kicking off the ceremony with an incredible performance, Ariana DeBose returned to the stage with Regé Jean-Page to present Best Supporting Actor
Oscar-winner Kotsur was delivering the announcement by sign language before a miscommunication resulted in Mulligan’s name being called for her performance in She Said.
The announcer quickly corrected the call and announced The Banshees Of Inisherin star Kerry Condon as the winner.
Taking to the stage, Condon paid tribute to director Martin McDonagh, adding: ‘Thank you for all the parts you gave me throughout my career. You make me so proud to be an Irish woman,’ before thanking the ‘amazing cast’ and her family as well as her horses and dogs.
Even host Richard E Grant joked later that he had a defibrillator for Mulligan.
The mistake did feature in the final broadcast on BBC One, which aired slightly behind the ceremony.
Helen Mirren also remembered the Queen as the ‘nation’s leading star’ as she lead a special tribute to the late monarch.
The veteran actress, 77, has portrayed the monarch on stage and screen, winning an Oscar and Bafta for her depiction in 2006’s biographical drama The Queen.
Amazing! Barry Keoghan won Supporting Actor for The Banshees Of Inisherin, and the Irish actor said he ‘should have planned this, really’ before thanking his co-stars and Ireland.
Show it off! Backstage, Barry proudly posed with his gong in hand after winning his first ever BAFTA
Iconic:Â Helen Mirren also remembered the Queen as the ‘nation’s leading star’ as she lead a special tribute to the late monarch
Tribute:Â The actress referenced the more than 50 cultural organisations the monarch supported during her lifetime and the honorary BAFTA award she received in 2013 in recognition for her ‘outstanding patronage of the film and television industries’
The late Queen had a close association with the Academy spanning 50 years which saw her donate to and support initiatives, as well as attend many events.
Taking to the stage, Dame Helen said: ‘BAFTA’s relationship with Her Majesty was longstanding and Bafta would not be what it is today without her loyal support.
‘In 1953, her coronation broadcast had the world watching. From that time, she was unquestionably the nation’s leading lady but as mysterious as a silent film star.
‘Who else could meet the world’s most famous singers, actors and performers and turn them into her supporting cast.
‘Throughout her 70-year reign, she met cinema’s greatest icons and witnessed the evolution of Hollywood’s golden age to the birth of the blockbuster. Her Majesty was front row for it all.’
The actress also referenced the more than 50 cultural organisations the late monarch supported during her lifetime and the honorary BAFTA award she received in 2013 in recognition for her ‘outstanding patronage of the film and television industries’.
Helen continued: ‘Cinema at its best, does what Her Majesty did effortlessly – bring us together and unite us in a story. Your Majesty, you are our nation’s leading star. On behalf of Bafta, thank you for all that you have done for our film and television industry.’
Barry Keoghan won Supporting Actor for The Banshees Of Inisherin, and the 30-year-old Irish actor said he ‘should have planned this, really’ before thanking his co-stars and Ireland.
Iconic duo:Â Jamie Lee Curtis and Anya Taylor-Joy presented the Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer to Charlotte Wells for Aftersun
Moving:Â Tearfully, she thanked the producers, cast and crew and mentioned the earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey, where the movie was filmed
Stellar:Â The first award of the night, Best Adapted Screenplay, was presented by Viola Davis and went to All Quiet On The Western Front, with director and screenwriter Edward Berger paying tribute to those fighting in Ukraine
Stellar! Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio won the BAFTA for Animated Film, and he thanked Netflix, the stars and the people who believed in a musical version of the classic children’s tale
Lauded: Director Guillermo del Toro (second right) took to the stage to accept the award, saying: ‘I think animation is not a genre for kids, It’s a medium for art; it’s a medium for film’
Reflecting on what it means to receive the award for a film which is so close to home, Keoghan said in the winner’s room: ‘It encourages the arts at home and we are an island of storytelling and great actors and poets and writers.Â
The first award of the night, Best Adapted Screenplay, was presented by Viola Davis and went to All Quiet On The Western Front, with director and screenwriter Edward Berger paying tribute to those fighting in Ukraine.
Screenwriter Ian Stokell said the project had been ‘worth the wait’ because the film is anti-war.
‘And this helps the industry massively at home and encourages people to send the scripts in and go for what they want to do.’
He added that he plans to celebrate his win with his son by ordering room service after the ceremony and that he was going to keep the award under a picture of his mother.
The award for Best Cinematography went to All Quiet On The Western Front, with lead cinematographer James Friend thanking his wife, daughter and fellow nominees.
He added: ‘I wasn’t expecting that and I haven’t written a speech. This is one of the greatest honours, I’m a bit speechless.’
Jamie Lee Curtis and Anya Taylor-Joy presented the Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer to Charlotte Wells for Aftersun.
Tearfully, she thanked the producers, cast and crew and mentioned the earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey, where the movie was filmed.
Wells also said her film was a ‘eulogy’ to her father and added ‘he’s not here, but my mum is’.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio won the BAFTA for Animated Film, and he thanked Netflix, the stars and the people who believed in a musical version of the classic children’s tale.
Del Toro added: ‘I think animation is not a genre for kids, It’s a medium for art; it’s a medium for film.’
Martin McDonagh won Original Screenplay for The Banshees Of Inisherin, giving the dark comedy film its third win, and he thanked BBAFTA, his fellow nominees, production company and the stars.
McDonagh also said: ‘Making a sad film, shouldn’t be so much fun.’
As the awards opened, Richard arrived clad in a matching white cape, a cheeky nod to his arrival at the venue in the Batmobile, and was greeted with a huge cheer from the guests.
During his opening monologue, Richard referenced Will Smith’s infamous slap at last year’s Oscars, telling audiences that ‘on my watch no one gets slapped tonight’.
Smith stormed onto the stage during the 94th annual Academy Awards in March and slapped presenter Chris Rock after the comedian made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
Amusing! During his opening monologue, Richard referenced Will Smith’s infamous slap at last year’s Oscars, telling audiences that ‘on my watch no one gets slapped tonight’ as he concluded his humorous remarks at the top of the show
The actor, who went on to win the coveted best actor Oscar moments later, was later banned from all Academy events for the next 10 years and resigned from the organisation.
Speaking at the Baftas, Grant said that the only slaps being received on Sunday would be ‘on the back’.
‘What a great year to be hosting the Baftas,’ he said.
‘In 2022, movie audiences were well and truly back and there has never been a better time to go to the cinema until right now.’
He added: ‘Well, not right now, I’m trying my best and nobody on my watch gets slapped tonight… except on the back.’
Grant also used the speech to seek work from the industry, reading out a comical resume and adding that his availability was ‘free from one minute past nine this evening’.
‘To each and everyone here tonight, I want you to know that my favourite film of the year is whichever one you made – it really touched me in a way that none of the others did,’ he joked.
Following her triumphant Best Support Actress win last year, Ariana Debose took to the stage with a stellar performance paying homage to the year in film.
Dynamic duo! Celebrated actor Richard E Grant will host the main ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall while TV presenter Alison Hammond will helm the Bafta Studio, an immersive and access-all-areas experience, as part of the BBC One show
Fun! The star donned a smart white blazer as he took to the stage for the first moment of the awards, and even donned a matching cape as part of his monologue
Here he is! As the awards opened, Richard arrived clad in a matching white cape, a cheeky nod to his arrival at the venue in the Batmobile, and was greeted with a huge cheer from the guests
The very best of national and international talent has converged on London for the 76th annual British Academy Film Awards, which take place on Sunday evening.Â
But there has been a subtle geographical shift, with the event – a celebration of the very best national and foreign films of 2022 – moving from the Royal Albert Hall for the first time in its storied history.Â
Instead, the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall is playing host to the prestigious ceremony as part of a new partnership between BAFTA and the Westminster venue.Â
The move also aligns BAFTA film with its sister ceremonies, the British Academy Television Awards and British Academy Game Awards, of which both are currently held at the same central London address.
Also, for the first time, the last 30 minutes of the show will be broadcast live on BBC One, as BAFTA moves toward the idea of a fully live ceremony.Â
Celebrated actor Richard E Grant will host the main ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall while TV presenter Alison Hammond will helm the Bafta Studio, an immersive and access-all-areas experience, as part of the BBC One show.
And Grant admitted he would struggle to contain his excitement as proceedings get underway.Â
‘I’m an unabashed fan of movies and of talent and always have been. I´ve never been disingenuous or, you know, blase about that,’ he said.Â
‘I probably have to restrain myself from permanently taking selfies with every nominee and winner coming up on the stage. From that point of view, I am the right fit for the job, hopefully.’
Grant also knows how it feels to participate in awards season and sit, nervously, waiting for that career changing envelope to be opened. He was nominated as supporting actor at both the BAFTAs and Oscars in 2019 for ‘Can You Ever Forgive Me?’
And he said that hwas aware that, as a working actor, hosting has its challenges.
‘Traditionally if you´re a comedian, your role is very clear to roast the audience,’ he said. ‘Whereas I´m an actor and, you know, even though I´m the vast vintage that I am now, I still want to work and collaborate with directors and actors and writers for the remainder of my breathing days.
‘So roasting them is not really an option and not something that I want to do.’Â
This year’s ceremony saw Dame Helen Mirren leading a special tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The veteran actress, 77, has portrayed the monarch on the silver screen and on the stage, winning an Oscar and BAFTA for her depiction in 2006’s biographical drama The Queen.
The Queen had a close association with the Academy which spanned 50 years and saw her donate and support initiatives, as well as attend many events over the years.Â
In 1972, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh donated the profits from the documentary film Royal Family to the Society of Film and Television Arts (SFTA), which later became the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), for a new headquarters.
The renaming of the organisation occurred during the official opening of the headquarters in 1976, which was conducted by The Queen, and remains the London home of BAFTAÂ five decades on.
During her lifetime, The Queen was a patron of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, the Royal Variety Charity and the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund.
In April 2013, the Queen received an honorary Bafta award by Sir Kenneth Branagh at Windsor Castle for her ‘tireless support’ for the industry.
The Queen’s grandson, the Prince of Wales, has been the president of Bafta since 2010.
Prince and Princess of Wales William and Kate will be attending the ceremony for the first time in three years before meeting the winners and Rising Star Award nominees.
The royal couple last attended the event in person in 2020 with the prince last year recording a video message in his place in which he congratulated those nominated and praised the work of BAFTA’s programmes.Â
BAFTA chief executive Jane Millichip said: ‘It is an absolute pleasure to welcome so many nominees and film industry guests to the EE Bafta Film Awards on Sunday.
‘This year’s Awards are shaping up to be one of our most well attended on record, which is a ringing endorsement of the importance of British audiences to the global film industry, and BAFTA’s s role in bringing these incredible films and filmmakers to public attention.
‘BAFTA’s membership of 7,500 industry experts have been voting and I can’t wait to find out which names will be read out on the night.’
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