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Posts tagged as “Cate Blanchett”

"12 Years a Slave" Wins Best Feature and More at Independent Spirit Awards

By goodblacknews on March 1, 2014


According to Variety.com, 12 Years a Slave dominated the Independent Spirit Awards today, winning Best Feature,  Best Director for Steve McQueen, Best Supporting Actress for Lupita Nyong’o and Best Adapted Screenplay for John Ridley. 12 Years also took the cinematography award for Sean Bobbitt.  McQueen dedicated his Best Director award to Solomon Northup, whose life and book was the basis for the searing historical drama, and also gave thanks to Chiwetel Ejiofor — the “soul” of the film.
In her acceptance speech, a composed Nyong’o said breathlessly that she had not been aware initially of the distinction of independent films, but said she then realized, “Independent film is where stuff actually happens.”  Nyong’o noted that it was her birthday and concluded her speech by thanking her mother for supporting her choice to become an actress.
Fruitvale Station finally gained some much-deserved recognition this awards season, winning Best First Feature for writer/director Ryan Coogler and its cast.  Coogler gave a moving acceptance speech honoring Oscar Grant that received a standing ovation.
Matthew McConaughey won the best actor trophy as an activist for Dallas Buyers Club and Cate Blanchett took the best actress award for her portrayal of the neurotic title character in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine. A full list of winners appears below.
In order to be nominated, each film has to have less than a $20 million production budget. To vote, one need only buy a $95 per year membership in Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that also produces the Los Angeles Film Festival.

BAFTA Awards: "12 Years a Slave" Wins Best Film, Best Actor Prizes

By goodblacknews on February 16, 2014

12 Years A Slave
According to Variety.com, the 2014 British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Award for Best Film went to 12 Years a Slave.  In his speech, helmer-producer Steve McQueen said that there were “21 million people living in slavery as we sit here now.” McQueen was joined at the event by fellow producers Anthony Katagas, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner.
The leading actor award went to Chiwetel Ejiofor for his performance in 12 Years a Slave. He paid tribute to McQueen, and said that the award really belonged to the director. “It’s yours. I’m going to keep it, but it is yours,” he said.  Although 12 Years A Slave‘s Lupita Nyong’o lost out to Jennifer Lawrence for Best Supporting Actress, the award for Supporting Actor was picked up by Barkhad Abdi for Captain Phillips. He thanked the performers who played the other pirates in the film. “We came from nothing and I got this (the BAFTA),” he said.

"12 Years a Slave" Nabs Top Prize at London Critics’ Circle Awards

By goodblacknews on February 2, 2014
'12 Years Slave' Nabs Top Prize
LONDON — Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave took top prize Sunday at the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards, which started with a tribute to Philip Seymour Hoffman, whose death was announced earlier in the day. 12 Years a Slave also won for Best Actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong’o).  McQueen said that the critic who mattered the most to him was his mother, who had approved of the film. “There’s critics, there’s scholars, but then there’s your mum, so I’m very pleased about that,” he told the Daily Mail.
Alfonso Cuaron took the directing award for Gravity, which was also honored for its special effects, as Tim Webber received the technical achievement award.  The Coen Brothers were named best scriptwriters for Inside Llewyn Davis. The actress prize went to Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine, and the supporting actor award was taken hostage by Barkhad Abdi for Captain Phillips.
LONDON CRITICS’ CIRCLE FILM AWARDS
Film – 12 Years a Slave
Foreign-language Film – Blue Is the Warmest Colour
Documentary – The Act of Killing
British Film – The Selfish Giant
Director – Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Screenwriter – Ethan Coen & Joel Coen, Inside Llewyn Davis
Actor – Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Actress – Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Supporting Actor – Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Supporting Actress – Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave
British Actor – James McAvoy, Filth/Trance/Welcome to the Punch
British Actress – Judi Dench, Philomena
Young British Performer – Conner Chapman, The Selfish Giant
Breakthrough British Filmmaker – Jon S. Baird, Filth
Technical Achievement Award – Tim Webber, Gravity special effects
Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film – Gary Oldman
article by Leo Barraclough via Variety.com