Sam Mendes, Joaquin Phoenix and Taika Waititi were among the winners at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards, increasing the odds for their chances at the Oscars Feb. 9. Mendes’ World War I epic “1917” was named Best Film and Mendes won Best Director, and the film took five awards in artisan categories. “There has been wonderful timing with all these awards that has really alerted people to the movie and they see it in cinemas. We’re enjoying every moment,” Mendes told the press after his win.
Phoenix received the Best Actor award for his performance in “Joker” and used his acceptance speech time to speak about diversity and inclusion, in light of the lack of people of color among the nominees.
“Jojo Rabbit” writer-director-star Waititi took the honors for his adapted screenplay, the day after he received the same honor at the Writers Guild of America Awards. At both ceremonies, he thanked novelist Christine Leunens and his mother, Robin Cohen, for “introducing me to the book and making me read the book” “Caging Skies,” on which the film is based.
BAFTA also recognized Shayna Markowitz for casting “Joker,” an award that has no equivalent at the Oscars.
Other winning WGA Tribe members include Craig Mazin for his “Chernobyl” screenplay, Liz Feldman for the “Dead to Me” pilot episode, and “Fosse/Verdon” writers Debora Cahn, Joel Fields, and Steven Levenson. Special career achievement awards went to Nancy Meyers (“Private Benjamin,” “It’s Complicated”), Brad Falchuk (“Pose,” “Glee”) and animation writer David N. Weiss.
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