Thursday, February 10, 2011

British?

Interesting clarification note on the London Film Critics' Circle Awards which were given out this evening at the BFI, Southbank.

The British categories refer to the British Isles, and therefore films, filmmakers, actors and actresses from both the UK and Ireland are eligible.

Could be an interesting talking point at the IFTAs this weekend!

The 'British' award categories went as follows:
THE ATTENBOROUGH AWARD: BRITISH FILM OF THE YEAR
The King's Speech (Momentum)
Runner-up: Another Year (Momentum)
BRITISH DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Tom Hooper - The King's Speech (Momentum)
Runner-up: Mike Leigh - Another Year (Momentum)
BRITISH ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Christian Bale - The Fighter (Paramount/Momentum)
Runner-up: Jim Broadbent - Another Year (Momentum)
BRITISH ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Lesley Manville - Another Year (Momentum)
Runner-up: Tilda Swinton - I Am Love (Metrodome)
BRITISH ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Andrew Garfield - The Social Network (Sony)
Runner-up: David Bradley - Another Year (Momentum)
BRITISH ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Olivia Williams - The Ghost (Optimum)
Runner-up: Rosamund Pike - Made in Dagenham (Paramount)
YOUNG BRITISH PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Conor McCarron - NEDs (Entertainment One)
Runner-up: Jessica Barden - Tamara Drewe (Momentum)
BREAKTHROUGH BRITISH FILM-MAKER
Gareth Edwards - Monsters (Vertigo)
Runner-up: Clio Barnard - The Arbor (Verve)

2 comments:

Fred said...

Well it ties in well with your post about distribution, below! I'm not familiar with all of the "British" winners here, are any of them (or the nominees) from the western region of of the "British" Isles?

(I always preferred the term "these islands" myself)

irish film portal said...

No Fred, none of the films or the awardees are from way out west!

It's one of those strange, nebulous areas where the meanings of 'British' and 'United Kingdom' take on particular (and differing) resonances depending on your point of view.

'Britain' generally refers geographically to the island of Britain (the Scots, Welsh and English nations) whereas 'United Kingdom' generally refers to the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The London based film trade and media often refer to Irish film-makers and their projects as British when, logically, they shouldn't.

'United Kingdomish' is a bit of a mouthful and has never entered common usage.