Revenge drama wins outstanding British film at Baftas

REVENGE DRAMA Promising Young Woman has been named outstanding British film at the Baftas.

The film, which is the directorial debut of The Crown actress Emerald Fennell, stars Carey Mulligan as a woman left traumatised by tragedy.

The film was nominated in six categories and Fennell also won the best original screenplay prize.

Fennell joked that everyone made the film for “a packet of crisps” and said the experience was “the greatest thing in my life.”

The ceremony, which was delayed by two months, is largely virtual this year, with only the hosts and presenters appearing in person at the Royal Albert Hall.

Hosts Dermot O’Leary and Edith Bowman opened the ceremony by honouring the Duke of Edinburgh.

Sir Anthony Hopkins was named the winner of the leading actor Bafta for his role in The Father. The film’s director, Florian Zeller, accepted the award virtually on his behalf.

Daniel Kaluuya won the best supporting actor prize for Judas And The Black Messiah , in which he plays Black Panther leader Fred Hampton and said it was “an honour to be a vessel for him”.

His House director Remi Weekes won the prize for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer. Korean actress Yuh-Jung Youn won the supporting actress prize for Minari. She defeated homegrown talent including Kosar Ali and Ashley Madekwe to win for her portrayal as an eccentric grandmother in the tender family drama. Director Thomas Vinterberg paid tribute to his late daughter as his film Another Round was honoured at the ceremony.

The Danish filmmaker, who is also responsible for projects including The Hunt and Far From The Madding Crowd, lost his teenage daughter Ida in a car accident at the start of the shoot, and much of the movie was made at her school. The film was among the early winners at the awards ceremony, where it picked up the gong for film not in the English language.

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 won best editing. Road movie Nomadland won the best cinematography prize. My Octopus Teacher won best documentary.