Baftas 2020: British Film 1917 Dominates Awards

THE 73rd British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) was held yesterday, Sunday, February 2 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, honouring the best national and foreign films of 2019. Presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

World War One film 1917 was the undisputed winner of the evening taking seven prizes in total. The trophies for Sir Sam Mendes’s movie included best film, best British film, best director and best cinematography.

In fact, there were no major upsets or surprise winners, with the favourites taking their awards as expected. Zellweger, Phoenix, Dern and Pitt have all taken awards in their acting categories at every major ceremony of awards this season thus far, which, in addition to their Baftas, include wins at the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild Awards and Critics’ Choice Awards.

With expected wins at the Oscars next weekend also.

The Joker, which went into the Baftas as the film with most nominations won three awards and the South Korean film Parasite won two prizes – for original screenplay and film not in the English language.

The 2020 ceremony, held a the Royal Albert Hall, and hosted Graham Norton, included a new award category: Best Casting.

Highlights:

Best Film: 1917

Best British Film: 1917

Best Actor: Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)

Best Actress: Renée Zellweger (Judy)

Most Awards: 1917 (7)

Most Nominations: Joker (11)