BAFTA Film Awards 2023: All Quiet On The Western Front breaks ceremony’s foreign film record | Ents & Arts News

All Quiet On The Western Front has made history, winning the most BAFTA awards for a foreign-language film with seven awards – including the grand prize of the night for best picture.

Netflix’s anti-war epic took the lead BAFTA nominated with 14 nominations, equaling the record set by Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2001 as the most nominations for a non-English-language film.

Edward Berger’s remake of Erich Maria Remarque’s 1928 novel of the same name won best director, non-English-language film, adapted screenplay, cinematography, soundtrack and original sound, as well as Best Film.

Its seven wins broke the record for the most BAFTAs won by a foreign-language film – previously held by Italian coming-of-age drama Cinema Paradiso, which won five. in 1988.

Director Berger told Sky News: “The best director is one that I never thought would be successful. It’s a German film, for God’s sake!”

A well-timed anti-war movie

Speaking on stage when accepting the award for best picture, cinematographer James Friend said the film shows a generation of young Germans who have been “poisoned by right-wing nationalist propaganda” and that he The film’s message is still valid nearly a century later.

Berger also paid tribute to those currently fighting in Ukraine, his comments adding a political flavor to the night, with many stars including Cate Blanchett, Colin Farrell and Yangtze Quynh all wore blue ribbons to show their solidarity and support for refugees and displaced people around the world.

by Martin McDonagh Irish comedy-drama The Banshees Of Inisherin – which tells a story of male friendships turning sour – gets four gongs, as well as Baz Luhrmann’s whirlwind biopic Elvis, about the king of rock and roll.

Unlucky Colin

Austin Butler, 31, was named best actor for his portrayal of Elvis, who died prematurely at the age of 42 in 1977. The emotional star paid tribute to the Presley family when Accepting the award, he said: “I can’t thank you enough for your love… this means the whole world to me.”

Elvis’s only daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, passed away last month at the age of 54.

Many had expected Banshees star Farrell to win best actor (something he hasn’t achieved in his 25-year career), so this win was one of the surprises of the night. .

Blanchett accepted the award for best actress, calling her role as monstrous conductor Lydia Tar “dangerous and potentially career-ending”.

Becoming emotional at the end of her speech, she paid tribute to her family – listing her mother and four children – who she said had endured her absence in long time when she was making the movie.

A brief mix

The Banshees of Inisherin took double wins in the male and female supporting categories, with Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan taking the prize.

Condon’s win came after a brief confusion, when a miscommunication between a sign language translator and Oscar-winning deaf actor Troy Kotsur, who was presenting the award, made Carey Mulligan the original announced as the winner.

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With the interpreter quickly correcting himself, the ceremony quickly got back on track, with Condon thanking the cast – as well as her horse and dog – for the win.

Multiverse Sci-Fi Everything Anywhere All At Once, the acclaimed indie Aftersun, James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water blockbuster, and the 1920s Hollywood love letter Babylon have all been hit expensive.

A whole new format

For the first time, this year’s awards were held at Queen Elizabeth Hall in Southbank, London.

The show is hosted by an actor Richard E Grantpresenter from the auditorium and This Morning presenter Alison Hammond, who spoke to the stars on the new BAFTA set, gives home viewers an all-inclusive experience of one of the nights Biggest in the movie.

For the first time in BAFTA history, four of the night’s 25 categories were televised live – meaning those in the audience heard the biggest winners at the same time as the audience, most likely because of the winners. Program owners are trying to stay relevant. The audience scene of award shows is decreasing.

There are also live music performances by American actress Ariana DeBose, London-born rapper Little Simz and musician Dylan.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were among those in attendance, and Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren led a memorial service for the late Queen.

Fair and equal representation?

While a four-time BAFTA winner, Blanchett called 2022 an “extraordinary year for women” in her best actress acceptance speech, with only one woman – Gina Prince-Bythewood, director performance of The Woman King – entered the category of best director, and she missed the award. award – went to Berger for All Quiet On The Western Front.

While men dominate the BAFTA film shortlist and no female-directed film has made it to the best picture category, the stellar debut of a British writer, director or producer is at the top of the list. shortlisted all-female talent shortlist; Aftersun writer and director, Charlotte Wells, accepted that award.

Before the ceremony, when asked about the possibility of gender-neutral performance categories – as the British have passed – BAFTA chief executive Jane Millichip said there was “no timeline” for a decision to be made. when they want to get it right, and they’re currently consulting with organizations like GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Defamation Coalition).

She also stated that the BAFTA review process will be ongoing and ongoing, and will be reviewed annually.

Although this year’s nominations were more diverse than in previous years (the 2020 BAFTA Movies shortlist did not feature a single white actor in any acting category), the last four acting category winners both are white.

Representation has always been a big theme during awards season, following previous controversies over diversity at both the BAFTA and the Oscars.

This may again raise the question of whether enough has been done to improve the diversity and inclusion of our biggest award shows.