Bafta Awards: Best film honour to Roma
LONDON: Netflix black-and-white production “Roma” triumphed at the Bafta film awards, boosting Oscar hopes for the US streaming giant whose rise poses a serious challenge to the conventional Hollywood business model.
The cinematic love letter to director Alfonso Cuaron’s 1970s childhood in Mexico City beat black comedy The Favourite to win best film and best director.
“I’m seriously touched this film has been received the way it’s been received,” Cuaron said at a star-studded ceremony on Sunday in London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Roma dented expectations of a clean sweep by The Favourite which picked up best actress for Olivia Colman as Queen Anne and best supporting actress for Rachel Weisz playing her confidante and lover.
Colman, 45, was up against Glenn Close (The Wife) and Lady Gaga (A Star is Born) -- the same power duo she will face at the Oscars on February 24, with Close so far the clear frontrun- ner. Last year’s Bafta ceremony saw Hollywood stars paint the red carpet black in solidarity with the #Metoo movement. The 2019 edition has also been tinged by scandal. Bafta removed Bohemian Rhapsody director Bryan Singer from the Queen biopic’s citation in the outstanding British film nomination “in light of recent very serious allegations”.
Rami Malek’s portrayal of the late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury -earned him the best actor award, however.
Best supporting actor at the Baftas went to Mahershala Ali for Green Book. AFP