American drama film “Nomadland” recorded massive wins at the British Academy Film Awards on Sunday, with Chinese director Chloe Zhao’s intimate portrayal of marginalised Americans winning in four categories including best film, best actress, and best director.
The socially distanced and largely remote awards ceremony in London had strong women directors in the run-up to this month’s Oscars. The British Academy has sought to improve diversity and Zhao was one of four women nominated for “best director”.
“We brought in changes to the awards to level the playing field”, said Krishnendu Majumdar, chair of the academy, following criticism over last year’s awards ceremony which had no women directors and an all-white shortlist.
Zhao welcomed stronger representation for women filmmakers in comments to journalists afterward, saying: “It’s about time, it’s great.”
“I love doing what I do and if this means more people like me get to live their dreams, I’m very grateful”.
British director Emerald Fennell also carried off two awards for her debut feature, “Promising Young Woman” starring Carey Mulligan. The Oscar-tipped thriller is about a woman who avenges a friend’s rape by pretending to be drunk in bars and then turning the tables on men who prey on her.
The film, which has elements of comedy and horror, won for outstanding British film and original screenplay.
Sitting in front of a grand piano in a gauzy white dress, Fennell described the film as a “labour of love”. “It was the greatest thing in my life making this film,” She stated.
The film is nominated for Oscars for best director and best original screenplay, while Mulligan is nominated for best actress.
“Nomadland” is one of the frontrunners for this month’s Oscar awards, with six nominations including for best picture, best director and best actress. Last month it won coveted Golden Globe awards for best drama film and best director.
One of the award presenters, comedian Youssef Kerkour described the stripped-back ceremony as “diet Bafta”. Prince William had been due to participate in the ceremony, but he pulled out following the death of his grandfather Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II.
Other winners in the technical awards included Christopher Nolan’s science fiction action-thriller “Tenet” for special visual effects and “Sound of Metal,” starring British actor Riz Ahmed, for sound.