Leo di Caprio scooped the big prize of Best Actor at Britain’s own Oscars, known as the BAFTAs, at a glittering awards show in London on Sunday.
The 69th British Academy of Film and TV Awards, held at the Royal Opera House in London’s Covent Garden, were given for the best feature-length films from around the world that had been shown on British cinema screens in 2015. Di Caprio’s ‘The Revenant’, in which the star grapples with a huge grizzly bear, was the big winner of the night, claiming three of the top prizes for Best Film, Best Actor, and Best Director.
Best Actor winner Leonardo DiCaprio gave an emotional speech honouring his 73 year old mother on her birthday. “I didn’t grow up in a life of privilege. I grew up in a tough neighbourhood in east Los Angeles and this woman drove me three hours every day to a different school to make sure I had a different opportunity. To my mother, it’s her birthday today, this is for you,” said an emotional DiCaprio to the assembled throng of thespians.
The American actor has for years been the subject of awards speculation. Though a multiple nominee at the real Oscars, the Academy Awards, DiCaprio has never been in receipt of the elusive Best Actor trophy. Some may suggest that his BAFTA win stands him good stead for finally adding that Oscar gold statue to his mantelpiece.
With the final round of Oscar voting in Los Angeles set for this Friday, some claim DiCaprio’s London success may influence the decision of the Academy voters. However, according to the LA showbiz bible, Hollywood Reporter, only seven of the last fifteen Best Actor BAFTAs have succeeded in gaining the Oscar title.
British stars were also recognised, with Kate Winslet scoring Best Actress for ‘Steve Jobs’, John Boyega the Rising Star Award for ‘Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens’, whilst the latest Star wars epic also got Best British Film and Outstanding Debut by a British Writer trumpeting homegrown talent.
A scene from ‘Theeb’ depicting the expanse of the Wadi Rum desert. (Courtesy: Cinethesia)
‘Theeb’, an Arabic-language film by the British-Jordanian Naji Abu Nowar, was awarded the title of Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, but lost out on Best Film Not In The English Language Film category to Hispano-Argentine black comedy ‘Wild Tales’.
‘Theeb’, Arabic for ‘wolf’, has been described as a ‘Bedouin Western’, and follows the titular protagonist Theeb, a young Bedouin boy in Jordan’s Wadi Rum desert. The film is set during World War I, in the period leading up to the Arab Revolt, and used local non-professional actors to play the roles.
‘Theeb’ received critical acclaim after its debut at 71st Venice International Film Festival in 2014, and has been nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, making history as the first Jordanian film to do so.
With Oscar night looming on 28 February, and no proven correlation with the BAFTA winners, it remains to be seen who will win Hollywood’s ultimate accolade at the 88th Academy Awards. BRIC Plus News will be on the red carpet, covering the star-studded night.
