Baftas 2024: A dog, tears and Murder on the dance floor

Meanwhile, American comedian and actor Keegan Michael-Key presented an award entirely in an English accent and best ensemble winner Downey Jr said he owed his win in part to the “British sensibility” of Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan.

Not to mention fellow American Da’Vine star Joy Randolph, who is a fully paid anglophile. She began her career in London’s West End in Ghost the Musical and before that, she studied at the British American Drama Academy in Oxford.

“I used to come (to London) and see plays and I saw War Horse at the National Theatre, that changed my life,” he said backstage. “It was so incredible that I called my school (in the United States) and said, ‘I’m not coming back, I want to stay here.’ So you guys taught me the classics and I’m obsessed with Pinter and all that.”

She truly is the gift that keeps on giving. Earlier in the evening, she took to the stage to collect her award for best supporting actress for her role as grieving mother Mary in The Holdovers.

When she walked up to receive the award from 12 Years a Slave star Chiwetel Ejiofor, she couldn’t resist saying, “You’re so handsome.” And indeed, he looked dapper in a classic black tuxedo.

She teared up when she talked about her co-star Paul Giamatti and again when she talked about her character. “There have been countless Marys throughout history who have never had the opportunity to wear a beautiful dress and take to this stage here in London. Telling their story is a responsibility I do not take lightly.” We were growing too.

He later made journalists cry with laughter when he used a well-known British word starting with ‘b’ when asked about the strange decision to release The Holdovers in the UK in January, even though it is set during the period Christmas. We’re sure you can guess which word we’re referring to.

Best Actor winner Cillian Murphy probably made his teenage kids cringe when he thanked his “Oppenhomies” in his acceptance speech, but we loved it.

He is the first Irish-born actor to win a Bafta award for best actor and said: “I’m a very proud Irishman, it means a lot.” He added: “People come up to me on the street and tell me they’ve seen (Oppenheimer’s) film five, six, seven times… it’s very humiliating… and it’s been a brilliant year for cinema.” .

At three hours long, six or seven times may be too much.

Presenter David Tennant was a smash hit this year, with his natural enthusiasm infectious and the script genuinely funny. And how many men could get away with a combination of kilt, sporran and shiny epaulettes?

Tennant also had fun with the Barbie team, hosting “the ugly corner” as the camera panned to gorgeous couple Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the audience. Closing the show with “Come on Barbie, let’s party” was also a highlight.

The 62-year-old has since raised millions for research into the disease and also raised awareness through the Michael J Fox Foundation. Many on social media said his appearance brought them to tears.

While Emerald Fennell’s twisted thriller failed to convert any of its five nominations into wins, it still dominated the headlines when Sophie Ellis Bextor took the stage to perform Murder on the Dancefloor. Her 2002 song has enjoyed something of a renaissance since it was used during the film’s infamous final scene when Barry Keoghan’s Oliver dances naked around his field.

Fortunately, Barry didn’t feel the need to recreate his performance and remained comfortably ensconced in his seat. However, the camera spotted him at the end and he seemed to have really enjoyed the show.

“Oompa-loompa, doompity-dee, now the best director category-ee, Oompa Loompa doompity-dong, most of these movies were frankly too long, Oompa Loompa doompity daa, but for some reason, the nominees are… “

However, it wasn’t all frivolous fun. Hot Spot won three awards, including best British film. It tells the chilling story of the head of Auschwitz, who lives next to the extermination camp with his young family.

Producer James Wilson said in his acceptance speech for best film not in English: “Walls are not new before or after the Holocaust and it seems clear at this point that we should be concerned about the deaths of innocent people in Gaza, Yemen or Mariupol”. or Israel.”

20 Days in Mariupol took home the award for best documentary. Its director, Mstyslav Chernov, gave an emotional interview to the BBC’s Colin Paterson, saying he hopes to still be alive when the Baftas come around next year. His film documents a team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol as they document the atrocities of the Russian invasion.

Speaking backstage, he said: “We give Ukrainians a voice. We continue to remind the world of what is happening right now. Russia has just occupied another city, so it is more important than ever to be here and keep talking about this. This award is “For the people of Mariupol. They have saved our lives. “They’ve helped us every step of the way.”

Morton, who has enjoyed a successful television career in shows including The Walking Dead and has starred in films such as Minority Report and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, was awarded this year’s Bafta scholarship, the organisation’s highest honorary award.

She grew up in the care system and told audiences how important it was for the people around her to be represented in film and television.

“When I first saw Ken Loach’s Kes on a huge TV in my classroom, I was forever changed.

“Seeing poverty and people like me on screen, I realized: representation matters.”

He said he would tell his younger self: “You matter, don’t give up, the stories we tell have the power to change people’s lives.

“Cinema changed my life, transformed me and brought me here today. I dedicate this award to every child in care, or who has been in care, and who did not survive.”

Speaking backstage about the challenges facing the British film industry, he said: “We can’t just be a service industry for wonderful Americans… we need our own investments. But if our government only gives us a culture and sports minister in rather than “Instead of separating that out and identifying what we do… it’s a billion-dollar industry. And it’s foolish of you not to understand that.”

There was some consternation that the former Friends star was not mentioned in the In Memoriam segment. But the Baftas said she would be included in the obituary montage for their television awards in May.