Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron’s semi-autobiographical black-and-white drama, Roma, and Yorgos Lanthimos’ dark comedy, The Favourite, emerged as big winners at the 72nd edition of the BAFTA Awards.
The Favourite, which had 12 nominations, dominated the ceremony with seven wins, including for leading actress (Olivia Colman), supporting actress (Rachel Weisz) and outstanding British film.
Roma, Curaon’s memoir of childhood set in 1970s Mexico City, claimed the top prize of best film, alongside director and cinematography honours.
It also won the BAFTA for film not in the English language. Colman, who won best actress for her role as Queen Anne in The Favourite, drew some of the biggest laughs and applause of the ceremony from the audience for her speech. She started by thanking “All the producers. We’re having an amazing night aren’t we? We’re going to get so pissed later.” The actor went on to thank her co-stars Weisz and Emma Stone, calling them “the coolest honour guard anyone could have.”
First-time nominee Rami Malek took home the best actor award for his portrayal of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. Malek thanked Mercury, who he called “the greatest outsider of them” for being “unwavering, unflinching and uncompromising in every way”.
The film also won the award for best sound. Mahershala Ali nabbed the best supporting actor trophy for Peter Farrelly’s Green Book.
Black Panther actor Letitia Wright won the EE Rising Star Award, the only award voted for by the public. A Star is Born, which was nominated in seven categories won the best original song award. The trophy was collected by director and star of the film Bradley Cooper. (PTI)
