Philip was ‘extraordinary part’ of Bafta history, says chief executive Berry
The chief executive of Bafta has paid tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh as an "extraordinary part" of the academy's history.
Philip became Bafta's first president in 1959, one year after the British Film Academy and the Guild of Television Producers and Directors merged to create the Society of Film and Television Arts (SFTA), a forerunner of Bafta. Speaking before last night's virtual ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall, Amanda Berry praised the duke for his role in creating the body as it is today.
She said: "Prince Philip was an extraordinary part of Bafta's history. He is the reason we are actually Bafta because he brought together the television guild and the society of film, which created this organisation recognising both film and television at a time when they were actually quite separate industries.
"So he was really forwardthinking and in the mid-1970s, when we officially became Bafta and we changed our name, the Royal Family donated some money from a documentary that was made about them to help us open our hq in Piccadilly.
"And obviously the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, is our president today, so we have a long history with the Royal Family. "Minari actress Yuh-jung Youn won the supporting actress prize last night. "My deep condolences for your Duke of Edinburgh and thank you so much for this award,” she said.
Revenge drama Promising Young Woman was named outstanding British film. The film, which is the directorial debut of The Crown actress Emerald Fennell, stars Carey Mulligan as a woman left traumatised by tragedy.
Another Round, created by Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg, won best foreign language film, while the adapted screenplay prize went to The Father, about a man slipping into dementia.
Pixar film Soul was named best animated film, while Sound Of Metal, about a drummer who loses his hearing, won best editing.
Road movie Nomadland won the best cinematography prize.