Winning speeches at the 2023 Bafta Film Awards focused on personal stories as well as the Ukraine/Russia war and the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
The awards took place last night (February 19) at London’s Royal Festival Hall on the Southbank.
In his best film speech for All Quiet On The Western Front, which won seven awards in total, director Edward Berger referenced the one-year anniversary of the Ukraine conflict, adding: “there are no winners in war”.
He said that he wanted the film to focus on the sense of the shame and guilt tied to Germany’s history. “This is a film about a hero’s journey, it’s not an adventure. I wanted to make a film that offers a different perspective of war compared to British or US war films.”
Barry Keoghan, who won best supporting actor for The Banshees Of Inisherin, dedicated his award to the Summerhill area of Dublin where he grew up. “For all the kids who are dreaming to be somebody from the area I came from, this is for you”. Supporting actress winner Kerry Condon thanked director Martin McDonagh for a role “that makes me feel so proud to be an Irish woman”.
Outstanding British debut winner Charlotte Wells, who shot Aftersun in Turkey, paid tribute to the victims of the Turkey and Syria earthquake. She said: ”A special thank you to our Turkish crew. I don’t think anyone in that country’s been unaffected by the earthquake.”
Tár’s Cate Blanchett, who took the award home for leading actress, praised her fellow nominees. “’Every year, these idiosyncratic and remarkable performances just break down the myth that women’s experience is monolithic.” She added that her role as a powerful conductor whose life unravels was ”very dangerous, and career-ending potentially.’
Austin Butler thanked the Presley family after his leading actor win for Elvis. “I cannot thank you enough for your love and for showing me who Elvis truly was,” Butler said. He also paid tribute to Elvis’ daughter Lisa Marie Presley, who died earlier this year.
Richard E. Grant, hosting for the first time, poked fun about the Will Smith Oscar controversy last year in his opening monologue, saying: “Nobody on my watch gets slapped tonight!”
However, Grant got teary-eyed while introducing the in-memoriam segment, which paid tribute to stars including Hugh Hudson, Angela Lansbury, Raquel Welch, James Caan, Jean-Luc Godard and Paul Sorvino. “Tonight is a celebration of film in all its mad, sad, funny, frightening, and thought-provoking forms”, he said. “Their legacies will live on”.
Finally, The Queen actress Helen Mirren played tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II during the ceremony accompanied by a short tribute video, with the Prince and Princess of Wales in attendance. She said: “Your majesty, you were our nation’s leading star.”
No comments yet