PRESS
HRH Prince William led those present at the BAFTA Film Awards last night, attending in his role as President of the organisation, and also to present a BAAFTA Fellowship to Helen Mirren. Among the transatlantic A-listers arriving on the red carpet leading to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden were Martin Scorsese, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Bradley Cooper and Tom Hanks. They joined London based film VIPs including Helen Mirren, director Steve McQueen and executive producer Rebecca Wang to attend the evening, which is now highly respected not only as a significant ceremony in its own right, but also as a reliable predictor for success at the Oscars next month.
HRH Prince William led the guests at the BAFTA Film Awards last night, attending in his role as President of the organisation and also to confer a BAFTA Fellowship on Helen Mirren.
Among the transatlantic A-listers arriving on the red carpet leading to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden were Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Bradley Cooper, and Tom Hanks. They joined London based film VIPs including Dame Judi Dench, director Steve McQueen and executive producer Rebecca Wang to attend the evening, which is now highly respected not only as a significant ceremony in its own right, but also as a reliable predictor for success at the Oscars next month. Live television coverage enabled audiences across many countries to follow the ceremony, hosted by Stephen Fry.
Competition in all award categories was fierce, but it was a successful night for the cinema industry in the UK. Steve McQueen’s Twelve Years a Slave won Best Film, and Chiwetel Ejiofur, who played the lead part, took the Leading Actor award. Twelve times nominated Gravity garnered six awards overall, including Best Director for Alfonso Cuaron. American Hustle saw two awards: for Best Original Screenplay, and also Jennifer Lawrence’s Best Supporting Actress. Newcomer Somali-American actor Barkhad Abdi won Best Supporting Actor for his debut role in Captain Phillips, and Cate Blanchett triumphed as Leading Actress for her stunning performance in Blue Jasmine.
Following the presentation of the awards, the evening moved to the Grosvenor House Hotel, where guests enjoyed the celebratory official dinner, and then concluded with the After Party in the hotel’s splendid ballroom.
BAFTA, the British Academy for Film and Television Arts, is the number one UK organisation for the promoting and supporting the three moving visual art forms: film, television and video games. It has existed in its present form for the last thirty five years as an independent charity, and now is also active in the US. The majority of its members are creatives and professionals working in the moving art industries and funding comes both from individuals and bodies within the industries.
Hollywood executive producer Rebecca Wang is member of the Academy Circle and an ongoing supporter for their Scholarship programme. She also actively advocates for BAFTA’s most recent campaign, Give Something Back. This calls on members, award winners and industry organisations to follow the campaign’s title and contribute towards the initiatives to support young people which, in addition to the Scholarship programme, also include guest lectureships and summer work placements.
Rebecca said: “It is so very gratifying for me to be able to support BAFTA’s marvellous initiative, the Give Something Back campaign, launched by HRH Prince William in November. It provides a golden opportunity to help foster and develop the budding talent of many British youngsters, and which at the same time will ensure and expand the future of creative visual arts in the UK.”