‘Three Billboards’ tops BAFTAS

Women make waves at UK film awards

LONDON, Feb 19, (Agencies): Ferocious female-led tragicomedy “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” was the big winner Sunday at the British Academy Film Awards in London, where women demanding an end to harassment, abuse and inequality dominated the ceremony.

Martin McDonagh’s film about a bereaved mother seeking justice won five trophies including best film, outstanding British film and best actress, for Frances McDormand.

Producer Graham Broadbent said the movie is “the story of a woman taking on the establishment and status quo.”

“It seems more timely now than we could ever have imagined,” he said.

Writer-director McDonagh said it was fitting, in the year of the “Time’s Up” campaign, that “Three Billboards” is “a film about a woman who refuses to take any s(asterisk)(asterisk)(asterisk) anymore.”

“Our film is a hopeful one in lots of ways, but it’s also an angry one,” McDonagh said. “As we’ve seen this year, sometimes anger is the only way to get people to listen and to change.”

McDonagh won the original screenplay prize for “Three Billboards,” which also netted Sam Rockwell the supporting actor trophy. Allison Janney was named best supporting actress for playing ice skater Tonya Harding’s domineering mother in “I, Tonya.”

Guillermo del Toro won the directing prize for monster fantasy “The Shape of Water,” which also took trophies for music and production design.

Gary Oldman, the favorite among bookies, won the best actor prize for playing British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in “Darkest Hour.”

The British prizes, known as BAFTAs, are considered a key indicator of likely success at Hollywood’s Oscars in two weeks’ time.

The film awards season in the United States and elsewhere has been overshadowed by the allegations of sexual harassment and abuse leveled at scores of entertainment figures since women began coming forward to accuse Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein last year.

England’s Old Vic Theatre has been rocked by allegations against former artistic director Kevin Spacey. London police are also investigating nine claims of sexual assault by Weinstein.

The red carpet and the auditorium at London’s Royal Albert Hall were a sea of black as actresses such as Lupita Nyong’o, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lawrence and Margot Robbie eschewed color as a statement against sexual misconduct and gender inequality.

Several actresses brought feminist activists as guests, and men showed solidarity with “Time’s Up” lapel pins.

Solidarity

McDormand opted to wear black and red rather than all black, and noted: “I have a little trouble with compliance.”

“But I want you to know that I stand in full solidarity with my sisters tonight in black,” she said.

On the red carpet, actress Andrea Riseborough, who brought UK Black Pride founder Phyll Opoku-Gyimah as her guest, said she also hoped the film industry was on the road to greater equality and diversity.

“It’s more likely we’ll see an alien onscreen than we’ll see an Asian woman at the moment, which is disgraceful,” Riseborough said.

Prince William — the British Academy’s president — and the Duchess of Cambridge were guests of honor at Sunday’s ceremony, hosted by “Absolutely Fabulous” star Joanna Lumley. Kate acknowledged the evening’s muted fashion by wearing a dark green Jenny Packham dress with black belt.

The call to wear black put Kate in a delicate position, because the royal family is careful to avoid political statements.

Ahead of the ceremony, almost 200 British women in entertainment called for an international movement to end sexual misconduct.

Kate Winslet, Emma Thompson, Naomie Harris, Emma Watson and Gemma Arterton were among signatories to a letter saying that 2018 should be “the year that time was up on sexual harassment and abuse.”

Winners

Winners of the 2018 British Academy Film Awards, presented Sunday: Film: “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” British Film: “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” Director: Guillermo del Toro, “The Shape of Water” Actor: Gary Oldman, “Darkest Hour” Actress: Frances McDormand, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”

Supporting Actor: Sam Rockwell, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” Supporting Actress: Allison Janney, “I, Tonya” Rising Star: Daniel Kaluuya British Debut: Writer-director Rungano Nyoni and producer Emily Morgan, “I am Not a Witch”

Original Screenplay: Martin McDonagh, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”

Adapted Screenplay: James Ivory, “Call Me By Your Name”

Film Not in the English Language: Music: Alexandre Desplat, “The Shape of Water” Cinematography: Roger Deakins, “Blade Runner 2049” Editing: Jonathan Amos, Paul Machliss, “Baby Driver” Production Design: Paul Austerberry, Jeff Melvin, Shane Vieau, “The Shape of Water” Costume Design: Mark Bridges, “Phantom Thread” Sound: “Dunkirk” Visual Effects: “Blade Runner 2049” Makeup and Hair: David Malinowski, Ivana Primorac, Lucy Sibbick, KazuhiroTsuji, “Darkest Hour” Animated Film: “Coco” Short Film: “Cowboy Dave” Short Animation: “Poles Apart” Documentary: “I am Not Your Negro” Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema: Wardle, National Film and Television School

Academy Fellowship: Ridley Scott

“The Handmaiden”

Jon