21 February, 2010
Source: Screen
Kathryn Bigelow has become the first woman to win the best director prize at the Orange British Film Academy Awards, held in London this evening (February 21). The award was one of six for Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker, which also took best film as well as prizes for sound, editing, cinematography and original screenplay.
Accepting her award from actor Clive Owen, Bigelow it was “humbling and deeply moving” and dedicated it to “never abandoning the need to find a resolution to peace”. She added she hoped that was the “first of many” women to win the prize. Bigelow is also tipped to become the first woman to win the best director Oscar next month.
Carey Mulligan, tipped by Screen as a Star Of Tomorrow in 2008, picked up the leading actress award for her role in Lone Scherfig’s An Education, although it was the film’s only award.
Colin Firth took the leading actor prize for A Single Man. Firth said he had almost turned the role down because he was not sure his imagination was “firing enough” but added he had emerged “more worldly, better groomed, more fragrant and more nominated” than before.
Inglourious Basterds’’ Christoph Waltz, and Mo’Nique from Lee Daniels’ Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire took the best supporting actor and actress roles as widely tipped. Waltz, a veteran German actor, described his win as “terrific and beautiful”, while Daniels’ stepped up to pick up the trophy on behalf of Mo’Nique.
Andrea Arnold picked up the BAFTA for Outstanding British Film for her Cannes prize winner, Fish Tank, and Duncan Jones won the award for Outstanding Debut by a British writer, as director or producer for Moon. After accepting his award, an emotional Jones said he hoped to work with his father [music legend David Bowie] because it would be “foolhardy” not to.
The Orange Rising Star Award went to Twilight star Kristen Stewart, who beat Mulligan, Jesse Eisenberg, Nicholas Hoult and Tahar Rahim. Described the win as “awesome”, she added: “I am in a unique position as I have the Twilight following and I do smaller movies too.”
Disney Pixar’s Up took two prizes for best animation and sound; James Cameron’s record breaking 3D epic Avatar took two awards for special visual effects and production design. Jean-Marc Vallee’s lavish British period drama, The Young Victoria, took the awards for costume design and hair and make-up.
Meanwhile, Jacques Audiard’s A Prophet won best film not in English and Jason Reitman’s Up In The Air won best adapted screenplay. The award was received by his co-writer Sheldon Turner.
The full list of winners is: Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer Duncan Jones, director – Moon Short Film I Do Air Short Animation Mother Of Many Music Up , Michael Giacchino Sound The Hurt Locker, Ray Beckett, Paul N. J. Ottosson, Craig Stauffer Editing The Hurt Locker, Bob Murawski, Chris Innis Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Joe Dunton Cinematography The Hurt Locker, Barry Ackroyd Special Visual Effects Avatar, Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham, Andrew R. Jones Supporting Actor Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds Costume Design The Young Victoria, Sandy Powell Make up and Hair The Young Victoria, Jenny Shircore Supporting Actress Mo’nique, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire Outstanding British film Fish Tank
