The British Academy Film Awards is an annual award show hosted by BAFTA. It is often cited as the British equivalent to the Oscars. In 2008, it took place in the Royal Opera House, having taken place since 2000 in the flagship Odeon cinema on Leicester Square.

History

BAFTA was founded in 1947 as The British Film Academy, by David Lean, Alexander Korda, Carol Reed, Charles Laughton, Roger Manvell and others. In 1958, the Academy merged with The Guild of Television Producers and Directors to form The Society of Film and Television, which eventually became The British Academy of Film and Television Arts in 1976.

BAFTA's stated charitable remit is to "support, develop and promote the art forms of the moving image, by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public". In addition to high profile awards ceremonies BAFTA runs a year-round programme of educational events including film screenings and tribute evenings. BAFTA is supported by a membership of around 6000 people from the film, television and video game industries.

The Academy's awards are in the form of a theatrical mask designed by American sculptor Mitzi Cunliffe, which was commissioned by the Guild of Television Producers in 1955.

Annual Ceremony

The ceremony used to take place in April or May, but from 2002 onwards it takes place in February in order to precede the Oscars. The awards are mostly open to all nationalities, though there is an award for Best British Film and Best Newcomer.

Location

The most recent ceremony took place at the Royal Opera House, breaking tradition as it had previously taken place (since 2000) in the flagship Odeon cinema on Leicester Square.

Multiple Nominations

35 actors have been nominated for two or three performances (for different films, in leading or supporting) in the same category in the history of the ceremony: Miranda Richardson, Anthony Hopkins, Geoffrey Rush, Al Pacino, Robert Redford, Michael Caine, Billie Whitelaw, Walter Matthau, Elliott Gould, Goldie Hawn, George C. Scott, Marlon Brando, Donald Sutherland, Richard Burton, Jack Lemmon, Bibi Andersson, Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Katharine Ross, Lee Marvin, Richard Attenborough, Jack Nicholson, Gene Hackman, Marcello Mastroianni, Rachel Roberts, Katharine Hepburn, Stéphane Audran, Dustin Hoffman, Jodie Foster, Sean Penn, Scarlett Johansson, Kate Winslet, Mia Farrow, Barbra Streisand, George Clooney and Meryl Streep.

Lists of BAFTA film awards

Film

• BAFTA Award for Best Film (since 1948)
• BAFTA Award for Best British Film (see BAFTA Award for Best Film)
• BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Film (see BAFTA Award for Best Film)
• BAFTA Award for Best Short Film (since 1980)
• BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film (since 2006)Crew

BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (since 1953) BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role (since 1953) BAFTA Award for Best British Screenplay (since 1955) BAFTA Award for Best Direction (since 1969) BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (since 1969) BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (since 1969) BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay (awarded 1969-1983) BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography (since 1969) BAFTA Award for Best Sound (since 1969)

BAFTA Award for Best Film Music (since 1969) BAFTA Award for Best Production Design (since 1969) BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design (since 1969) BAFTA Award for Best Editing (since 1978) BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer (since 1981) BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects (since 1983) BAFTA Award for Best Makeup (since 1983) BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay (since 1984) BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay (since 1984)

Honourary

• BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award (since 1971)

See also

• BAFTA
• British Academy Television Awards
• BAFTA Scotland
• BAFTA Cymru

References

External links

• Official site at BAFTA.org
• BAFTA Awards database
• Museum of Broadcast Communications: BAFTA
• IMDB: BAFTA
• The most-honored films nominated for BAFTA Best Film
• Up to date news and reviews of BAFTA Films