BAFTA 2019: THE FAVOURITE, ROMA EMERGE BIG WINNERS

It was a win-win for period dramas at the 2019 British Academy Film

Awards as the 18th century-set The Favourite won seven honours, and the Mexican black and white drama Roma registered four big wins.

At the ceremony hosted by Joanna Lumley at the Royal Albert Hall, The Favourite won Outstanding British Film, Leading Actress (Olivia Colman), Supporting Actress (Rachel Weisz), Original Screenplay, Costume Design, Production Design, Make Up and Hair.

Netflix’s Roma scooped up big honours, including the Best Film, Best Director, Film Not in the English Language and Cinematography. Cuaron won in each of these categories, setting a tone of sorts for what to expect at the Oscars later this month.

Acting accolades went to Rami Malek for his lead role as Queen star Freddie Mercury

in Bohemian Rhapsody, which also won an award for Sound. Mahershala Ali won the Best Supporting Actor for Green

Book, a film backed by Reliance Entertainment’s Amblin Entertainment. Diversity was celebrated as Guyaneseborn British actress Letitia Wright won the EE Rising Star Award — an honour that the public votes for. BlacKkKlansman won for Adapted Screenplay, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse took the award for Animated Film, the Best Documentary went to Free Solo, Vice won for Editing, and Black Panther received the BAFTA for Special Visual Effects.

A Star Is Born won for Original Music — an award that singer-actress Lady Gaga was ecstatic about. The film’s actor-director Bradley Cooper, who composed music for it too, gave a moving speech in which he dedicated the award to his costar Lady Gaga, who couldn’t be a part of the gala as she was in Los Angeles for the Grammy Awards night.