MUMBAI: After losing out on the Oscars, UTV Motion Pictures’ Rang De Basanti directed by Rakyesh Onprakash Mehra lost out to Mexican Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Lanyrinth at the British Academy of Film and Television awards (BAFTA) in the best foreign language film category.
The others competing in the category were Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto, Pedro Almodovar’s Volver and Paul Verhoeven’s Black Book.
Pan’s Labyrinth, a fantasy set just after the end of the Spanish Civil War also picked up two more awards for best costume design and make-up and hair.
On the other hand, The Queen clinched the best film and Helen Mirren won the best actress award for her portrayal of the monarch, while The Last King of Scotland scooped three awards.
Mirren beat Judi Dench, nominated for her role in the school sex drama Notes on a Scandal, Penelope Cruz in Volver, Meryl Streep in the fashion comedy The Devil Wears Prada and Kate Winslet in Little Children.
The 61-year-old’s portrayal of a confused monarch at the time of Princess Diana’s death in 1997 also helped The Queen scoop best film ahead of Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Babel, The Departed by Martin Scorsese, The Last King of Scotland and the beauty pageant comedy Little Miss Sunshine.
In contrast, the latest James Bond movie Casino Royale failed to shake or stir, picking up just one of the nine BAFTA nominations it received – winning the sound quality category.
Forest Whitaker won best actor for playing the late Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. He beat off competition from Daniel Craig, the controversial but ultimately successful choice to replace Pierce Brosnan as superspy James Bond in Casino Royale. Other nominees were Leonardo DiCaprio in The Departed, Richard Griffiths in The History Boys and Peter O’Toole in Venus.
The Last King of Scotland also clinched best British film and the adapted screenplay awards.
“It has been a brilliant year for film and for British film in particular. As is so often the case with our 6000 voting members, they have spread their votes widely, resulting in films of all nationalities being honoured,” BAFTA film committee chairman David Parfitt said.
The best director award was won by Paul Greengrass for his fact-based September 11 drama United 93. He beat Stephen Frears, who directed The Queen, as well as Martin Scorsese.
Best Supporting Actor went to Alan Arkin for Little Miss Sunshine, and Best Supporting Actress was won by Jennifer Hudson for her role in Dreamgirls.
