La La Land wins big at BAFTA

Hollywood romantic musical "La La Land" on Sunday won five awards out of its eleven nominations at the 70th BAFTA Awards. The ceremony, where Indian-origin British actor Dev Patel bagged the Best Supporting Actor honour for "Lion", also saw celebrities making political statements uninhibitedly.

"La La Land", a feel-good movie exuding an old world charm, clinched the Best Film title, along with a Best Director for Damien Chazelle, Best Leading Actress for Emma Stone, Best Cinematography for Linus Sandgren and Best Original Music for Justin Hurwitz.

The movie's lead star Ryan Gosling missed out on the Best Actor going to Casey Affleck for "Manchester by the Sea" and Chazelle was pipped to the Best Original Screenplay prize by Kenneth Lonergan for the same film. But largely, the awards at the historic Royal Albert Hall were spread widely.

Movies like "Manchester by the Sea", "Fences", "Lion", "Arrival", "Hacksaw Ridge", "Jackie" and "Florence Foster Jenkins" won, while "Moonlight" seemed to have been eclipsed by them all at the gala, attended by Duke of Cambridge Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton.

Prince William awarded the BAFTA Fellowship to 90-year-old comedian and filmmaker Mel Brooks, who said it was "mighty nice" of the BAFTA heads to choose an American for the prestigious honour.

It was earlier reported that BAFTA heads had fears that this year's ceremony will be full of celebrities vocalising their political standpoint. And as expected, many of them spoke out.

Lonergan told the audience how his 15-year-old daughter had woken in tears after Donald Trump was elected US President, but had since been on five protest marches since.

Also, Stephen Fry, who was hosting the gala for the 12th time, took a swipe at Trump. While welcoming veteran actress Meryl Streep to the ceremony, he said Streep was "one of the greatest actresses of all-time. Only a blithering idiot would think otherwise."

Roll of honour

Film: La La Land
British Film in 2017: I, Daniel Blake
Director: Damien Chazelle, La La Land
Actor: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Actress: Emma Stone, La La Land
Supporting Actor: Dev Patel, Lion
Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, Fences Film Not in the
English Language: Son of Saul
Documentary: 13th
Animated Film: Kubo and the Two Strings
Cinematography: Linus Sandgren, La La Land
Original Screenplay: Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea
Adapted Screenplay: Luke Davies, Lion
Production Design: Stuart Craig and Anna Pinnock, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Costume Design: Madeline Fontaine, Jackie
British Short Animation: A Love Story
British Short Film: Home
EE Rising Star Award: Tom Holland
Original Music: Justin Hurwitz, La La Land