BAFTA Awards 2021: Celebrating a Challenging But Powerful Year in Cinema

Last weekend (10th & 11th April) marked a brilliant and integral moment in British cinema, as the 74th BAFTA awards ceremony was held to a virtual audience live from the beautiful Royal Albert Hall. The ceremony, which ran across both days, celebrated the achivements of national and global film, highlighting the incredible talent of cast and crew in the film industry through a celebration of all things cinema.

The BAFTAs were not only a stellar moment for British film, but displayed an important turning point for black British cinema across the nation. After last year’s diversity review triggered by the #BAFTAsSoWhite scandal of 2020, the 2021 awards ceremony boasted a brilliant change in direction for the organisation – spotlighting a greater depth and diversity of talent, as well as focusing further on female industry professionals and those who have been often overlooked at previous ceremonies.

The ceremony overall was a success, with audiences and critics alike praising BAFTA for their newfound goals to strive for diversity in film with a keen eye for boosting the industry after a tough COVID-stricken year for cinema. Whilst the ceremony found its viewing figures drop drastically, the change in mode for the awards must be noted.

With this in mind, here are some of the notable wins for black British cinema at the 2021 BAFTAs…

Remi Weekes (His House) – Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer

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  His House / Netflix

After its incredible four wins at the BIFAs earlier this year, it was no surprise Remi Weekes’ chilling horror His House which follows a refugee couple as they flee from South Sudan to a small town in England received three nominations at this year’s BAFTAs. Out of these three, His House won one of the most prestigious awards of the ceremony: Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer. As Weekes’ directorial debut, having previously only directed shorts and a television mini-series, His House marks an incredible start for the British directors’ career.

His House (15) is available to stream now on Netflix UK.

Daniel Kaluuya (Judas and the Black Messiah) – Supporting Actor

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  Judas and the Black Messiah / MACRO

Daniel Kaluuya is well versed in awards ceremony wins by now. From his initial recognition with the EE Rising Star Award in 2018 to his recent sweep of awards for his role in the recent historical drama Judas and the Black Messiah, it’s no surprise to anyone that the British actor took away the Best Supporting Actor award on Sunday evening to join his SAG and Golden Globe wins. Judas and the Black Messiah depicts the betrayal of Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton (Kaluuya), with Lakeith Stanfield playing the oppositional role as FBI informant William O’Neal.

Judas and the Black Messiah (15) is available to rent now on Amazon Prime UK.

Bukky Bakray (Rocks) – EE Rising Star

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  Bukky Bakray (Right) in Rocks / BFI

New girl on the block Bukky Bakray has had a pretty good year, from being taken out of her normal life as a teenager in secondary school to starring as a similar teenager in one of this years’ favourite coming-of-age British film Rocks, it’s been a changing time for the young actress. After being nominated for two awards at the BIFAs, alongside winning the London Critics Circle award for Young British/Irish Performer, Bukky Bakray was set for a good night at the 2021 BAFTAs. Whilst she didn’t take away the award for Best Actress, Bakray won one of the most coveted awards of the evening – the career promising EE Rising Star Award. Won by many notable talents in the past, such as John Boyega in 2016 and Letitia Wright in 2019, the award is voted for by the public and highlights the brightest star of the year.

Rocks (12A) is available to stream now on Netflix UK.

Noel Clarke – Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema

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  Clarke (Right) in Bulletproof / Sky Studios

Long-standing British talent Noel Clarke, who first won the EE Rising Star award at the 2009 BAFTAs was awarded with the powerful Oustanding British Contribution Award at this year’s edition. Clarke’s work was highlighted, from his early days and the impact of the Kidulthood trilogy on national cinema, to his recent performances in Sky One’s Bulletproof (2018-) and the action thriller film SAS: Red Notice (2021).

Clarke dedicated his speech to those like him, highlighting the reasons he never felt like he deserved the Rising Star Award back in 2009:

“I felt vindicated. I won something at the time that someone like me was never supposed to. Something that I had been told I couldn’t.”

His speech finished with a decidation to those struggling to make it in a landscape that often lacks diversity and opportunity:

“This is particularly for my young black boys and girls out there who never believed that this could happen to them.”

Bulletproof (15) is available to stream now on Sky.

The 2021 BAFTA ceremony is available to stream now for free on BBC iPlayer.