The Winners of the 2018 BAFTA Awards
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has just finished handing out their awards for 2017, with the hardly-surprising result of Martin McDonagh's marvelous "Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri" taking the top prize of Best Film. The film also received Best Actress (Francis McDormand), Best Supporting Actor (Sam Rockwell), Best Original Screenplay (Martin McDonagh), and Outstanding British Film for a total of five wins.
As far as surprises go, the only small, unexpected happenings occurred in Best Editing, where "Baby Driver" topped ACE winner "Dunkirk," and in Best Special Visual Effects, where "Blade Runner 2049" topped "War for the Planet of the Apes," after the latter had dominated at the Visual Effects Society Awards. The only major disappointment occurred when the Rising Star Award was given to Daniel Kaluuya over Timothee Chalamet, but this is the one award voted on by the public, not professionals, so I suppose we have to expect mistakes to happen.
With the major victories for "Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri" today, it clearly remains the frontrunner for the upcoming Oscars. It's also interesting to point out that a film has not won both the Best Film and Outstanding British Film categories since "The King's Speech," and before that, not since "A Man for All Seasons," both of which went on to do very well at the Oscars. To put it another way, either McDonagh's outstanding film will repeat its wins at the Oscars, or we're going to have a third year in a row where the Hollywood Foreign Press (the Golden Globes) and BAFTA ended up being better judges than AMPAS.
Next up is the main event, the 90th Annual Academy Awards on Sunday, March 4th. Until then, there will be lots of speculation, debate, and predictions (look for mine in the next two weeks!). Be sure to check back on the big night to see if your favorites win big.
In the meantime, please see below for a complete list of BAFTA winners:
Best Film: Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri Best Director: Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water Best Actor: Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour Best Actress: Frances McDormand, Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri Best Supporting Actor: Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri Best Supporting Actress: Allison Janney, I, Tonya Best Original Screenplay: Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri Best Adapted Screenplay: James Ivory, Call Me by Your Name Best Editing: Baby Driver Best Cinematography: Blade Runner 2049 Best Production Design: The Shape of Water Best Costume Design: Phantom Thread Best Make Up & Hair: Darkest Hour Best Original Music: The Shape of Water Best Sound: Dunkirk Best Special Visual Effects: Blade Runner 2049 Best Animated Film: Coco Best Documentary: I am Not Your Negro Best Film Not in the English Language: The Handmaiden Best British Short Film: Cowboy Dave Best British Short Animation: Poles Apart
Outstanding British Film: Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer: I am Not a Witch The EE Rising Star Award: Daniel Kaluuya
Follow me on Twitter @BeckFilmCritic.