British Academy Film Awards
66th British Academy Film Awards
Awarded for	The best in film
Country	United Kingdom
First awarded	1947
Official website	bafta.org

The British Academy Film Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). It is often considered to be the British counterpart of the Academy Awards.^[1][2][3] As of 2008, it has taken place in Central London at the Royal Opera House, having taken over from the flagship Odeon cinema on Leicester Square. The 66th British Academy Film Awards took place on 10 February 2013.

History [edit]

British Academy of Film and Television Arts (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 6,000 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 [edit]

The location for the 2008 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 Outstanding British Film and Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Producer or Director. The Short Film and Short Animation awards are also only for UK films.

The Awards ceremony is broadcast on British television, usually the day after it has taken place. It is mostly broadcast on BBC One.

Location [edit]

As of 2008, the ceremonies take place at the Royal Opera House; previously it had taken place (since 2000) in the flagship Odeon cinema on Leicester Square.

Sponsorship [edit]

The awards were sponsored by mobile network Orange until 2012. In 2013 they are sponsored by Orange and T-Mobile UK owner, EE.

British Academy Awards of Merit [edit]

Film

• BAFTA Award for Best Film (since 1948)
• BAFTA Award for Best British Film (since 1948)
• BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Film (since 1948)
• BAFTA Award for Best Short Film (since 1980)
• BAFTA Award for Best Short Animation (since 1990)
• BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film (since 2006)
• BAFTA Award for Best Documentary (1948–1989, 2012)

Crew

Retired awards [edit]

• BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer to Leading Film Roles (awarded 1952–1984)
• BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay (awarded 1969–1983)
• BAFTA Award for Best British Screenplay (awarded 1955–1968)
• BAFTA Award for Best British Actor (awarded 1952–1967)
• BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor (awarded 1952–1967)
• BAFTA Award for Best British Actress (awarded 1952–1967)
• BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress (awarded 1952–1967)

British Academy Special Awards [edit]

• BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award (since 1971)
• The Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award (known as the Michael Balcon Award from 1979 to 2006)^[4]

See also [edit]

• BAFTA Cymru
• BAFTA Scotland
• British Academy Television Awards

References [edit]

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: BAFTA Awards

• Official website
• BAFTA Awards database
• Museum of Broadcast Communications: BAFTA
• IMDB: BAFTA
• BAFTA Awards (British Academy Film Awards) on PIX

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