BAFTA Awards - H 2015
AP Images/InvisionThe winner of the well-tailored tussle between Eddie Redmayne and Benedict Cumberbatch for the BAFTA best actor crown might not be revealed until Feb. 8, but we already know who will be receiving one of the night’s awards.
In an announcement on Wednesday, BAFTA said it would present BBC Films with this year’s award for outstanding British contribution to cinema, handed out annually at the BAFTA ceremony in honor of former Ealing Studios head Michael Balcon.
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BBC Films head Christine Langan said she was “truly delighted and honored” that the broadcaster’s filmmaking unit was receiving the award on its 25th anniversary.
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“For the past 25 years, great effort has gone into establishing BBC Films as a nurturing and collaborative home for filmmakers — one which showcases British talent to the world and deepens the impression of the British film industry as a vital cultural force,” she said in a statement. “I want to thank all the amazing filmmakers, our many partners and a deeply committed team of BBC colleagues, past and present, who have made BBC Films the creative hub that it is today.”
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In its 25 years, BBC Films has produced more than 250 films, dating back to Anthony Minghella’s Truly Madly Deeply in 1990 and including Billy Elliot, My Week With Marilyn, Philomena and recent hit Pride, up for three BAFTA awards next month. Over this time it has earned more than 20 BAFTAs from over 100 nominations.
Previous recipients of the outstanding British contribution to cinema award have included Mike Leigh, Kenneth Branagh, Ridley Scott and the Harry Potter series of films. Last year it went to Peter Greenaway, who is taking his latest feature, Eisenstein in Guanajuato, to the Berlinale.
