In the latest guide to form for the Hollywood Oscars, the British Film Academy has chosen 12 Years a Slave as the Bafta film of the year.
Its star, Chiwetel Ejiofor was named best actor as the free black man kidnapped back into slavery.
Australian-born Cate Blanchett was named best actress for her role as a Manhattan socialite in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine, which is also set in the US.
However, British director Steve McQueen missed out on the best director award, which went to Gravity’s Alfonso Cuaron.
Although all these films are nominally Hollywood productions, to qualify for the Baftas they need a British connection.
McQueen (no relation to the Hollywood action star) was born in London to West Indian parents.
Gravity was made in the UK, while Blue Jasmine has, er, a British actress (Sally Hawkins). It is the only one of the Bafta winners not to be nominated for the best film Oscar,
However, Blanchett is in the running for best actress.
Nevil Gibson
Mon, 17 Feb 2014
Mon, 17 Feb 2014
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Aussie-born Cate wins Bafta for all-American film
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