The 74th British Academy Film Awards, honoring the best national and foreign films of the past year, are being handed out in a two-night celebration. On Saturday, the virtual awards were hosted by radio and TV presenter Clara Amfo with craft-centered awards announced. Sunday’s virtual ceremony will be hosted by Edith Bowman and Dermot O’Leary at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Amfo opened the first night by reading a tribute to Prince Philip, who died Friday at the age of 99.
“On behalf of BAFTA, we are extremely saddened by the passing of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, on Friday. The Duke was BAFTA’s very first president over 60 years ago and was the first of a line of royal patronage all the way through to BAFTA’s current president, his grandson, the Duke of Cambridge,” Amfo read. “It was Prince Philip and Her Majesty the Queen’s support throughout these years that in many ways allowed BAFTA, a leading charity in the arts, to continue in difficult times and to be here today in 2021. The Duke of Edinburgh occupies a very special place in BAFTA history and he will be missed. Our thoughts are with his family.” Prince William was scheduled to appear during the weekend’s event, but canceled following his grandfather’s death.
Additionally, during night one, BAFTA nominee Leslie Odom Jr. sang “Speak Now,” the song he co-wrote for the film One Night in Miami.
On Sunday, the hosts will be joined by a small group of presenters at the esteemed British stage and concert venue while others joined virtually from Los Angeles as they handed out the awards, including the public-voted Rising Star award and the BAFTA fellowship.
Ahead of the ceremony, Nomadland and Rocks led with the most nominations, each earning seven, including Best Direction. Other major nominated films included The Father, Mank, Minari and Promising Young Woman, all of which have made a splash during the 2021 awards season.
