BAFTAs 2020: War epic 1917 cleans up with awards including best film and director

British director Sam Mendes’ war epic 1917 is the big winner at this year’s BAFTA Awards, taking home the night’s big prize, best picture, as well as a slew of other gongs.

Beating The Irishman, Joker, Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood and Parasite to win best film, Mendes also became the first British winner of the best director BAFTA in 11 years.

1917, a deeply personal story based on Mendes’ grandfather’s wartime experiences, picked up seven awards out of nine nominations, including for cinematography, sound and production design, and the prize for outstanding British film at the 2020 ceremony.

The night’s acting prizes followed a similar pattern to the Golden Globes and other awards ceremonies so far this year, with Joaquin Phoenix and Renee Zellweger named best leading actor and actress, for their roles in Joker and Judy, and Brad Pitt and Laura Dern taking home the supporting prizes, for their performances in Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood and Marriage Story.

Other winners included Korean black comedy Parasite, which was named best film not in the English language, and it also won the prize for best original screenplay. As well as Phoenix’s trophy, Joker won two other awards, for original score and casting, while the adapted screenplay BAFTA went to anti-hate satire Jojo Rabbit.

But the night belonged to 1917.

Speaking in the winner’s room, Sir Sam praised the strength of the UK film industry after his successful night.

“The sheer depth of talent in the industry here is extraordinary and this was made by those craftsmen,” he said.

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Ahead of the ceremony, which was hosted by Graham Norton at London’s Royal Albert Hall, diversity was a big talking point, with the awards facing criticism over the all-white acting nominees and the all-male line-ups in the best director and best film categories.

The issue was highlighted on stage and in the winners’ room, with Phoenix using his winner’s speech to say: “I feel very honoured and privileged to be here tonight – Bafta has always been very supportive of my career and I’m deeply appreciative.

“But I have to say that I also feel conflicted because so many of my fellow actors that are deserving don’t have that same privilege.

“I think that we send a very clear message to people of colour that you’re not welcome here, I think that’s the message that we’re sending to people that have contributed so much to our medium and our industry and in ways that we benefit from.

“I don’t think anybody wants a hand-out or preferential treatment, although that’s what we give ourselves every year. I think people want to be appreciated and respected for their work.

“This is not a self-righteous condemnation because I am part of the problem, I have not done everything in my power – not all sets I’ve worked on are inclusive.

“I think that we really have to do the hard work to truly understand systemic racism… it is the obligation of the people that have created and perpetuated and benefit from a system of oppression to dismantle it, so that’s on us.”

Earlier in the day, Phoenix had taken part in a protest at Tower Bridge, urging people to “go vegan” ahead of the ceremony.

Prince William, who attended the awards with wife Kate, also addressed the issues around diversity before presenting Lucasfilm president and producer Kathleen Kennedy with the BAFTA Fellowship, the highest honour at the ceremony.

The duke praised the “exceptional film-making” that had been highlighted during the ceremony, and reflected on his 10 years as BAFTA president, joking that he did not know if he should be “proud or slightly alarmed” at how many of the winners “have portrayed members of my own family”.

William said: “Both here in the UK and in many other countries across the world we are lucky to have incredible film-makers, actors, producers, directors and technicians – men and women from all backgrounds and ethnicities enriching our lives through film.

“Yet in 2020, and not for the first time in the last few years, we find ourselves talking again about the need to do more to ensure diversity in the sector and in the awards process – that simply cannot be right in this day and age.

“I know that both Pippa [Harris], chair of BAFTA, and Amanda [Berry], BAFTA CEO, share that frustration and continue to work tirelessly to ensure that creative talent is discovered and supported.

“BAFA take this issue seriously, and following this year’s nominations, have launched a full and thorough review of the entire awards process to build on their existing work and ensure that opportunities are available to everyone.”

Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood star Brad Pitt, who like Phoenix and Zellweger, had won several awards season prizes already in the run-up to the BAFTAs, could not attend the ceremony due to family obligations.

However, his speech, delivered by his co-star Margot Robbie, was one of the night’s most memorable.

“Hey Britain, heard you just became single, welcome to the club,” the actor’s speech said. “Wishing you the best with the divorce settlement.”

Robbie added on behalf of her co-star: “He says he is going to name this Harry because he is really excited about bringing it back to the States with him. His words not mine.”

Roger Deakins’ win for best cinematography for 1917 means he has become the most-decorated winner of that category, with five wins.

The outstanding British contribution to cinema award was presented to Andy Serkis, while the EE rising star prize was handed to Michael Ward.

(c) Sky News 2020: BAFTAs 2020: War epic 1917 cleans up with awards including best film and director