POC Winners Of The BAFTA Awards
The 75th British Academy Film Awards, also known as the BAFAs, were held on 13 March 2022 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, honoring the best national and foreign films of 2021.
During the ceremony, the following people of color and POC-themed productions took home the award.
Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director or Producer: Jeymes Samuel (writer/director) & Boaz Yakin (writer), The Harder They Fall
Jeymes Samuel won the Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer for his work The Harder They Fall. Jeymes Samuel, who co-wrote, directed, and scored the movie, effectively utilizes a wide screen to frame shots to employ a lot of negative space while containing layers of information for viewers to focus on. The film embraces the over-the-top aspects of its central storyline by enacting outrageous scenes such as an entire town colored white and populated by White people.
Film Not In English Language: Drive My Car
Drive My Car was honored with the award for the best foreign-language film at the BAFTA Awards ceremony. This film portrays a story about grief, love, and work as well as emphasizing the power of art. While many films are about life lessons, Drive My Car focuses more on what it’s like to go on living after a tragedy.
Documentary: Summer of Soul
Summer of Soul took home the BAFTA best documentary award this year. The documentary from Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson is about the series of musical lineups dubbed “the Black Woodstock” that took place in Harlem’s Mount Morris Park. The documentary splendidly lays out the 1969 concert for those of us who weren’t there to witness it firsthand.
Animated Film: Encanto
BAFTA’s Animated Film award went to Encanto. The film is a stunning animated film with original songs and scores, emotional resonance among viewers, and a very positive vibe for young viewers. Encanto effectively utilizes the Colombian culture to depict a magical tale of a family that received special powers after surviving a tragedy.
Leading Actor: Will Smith, King Richard
Will Smith was honored by receiving the award for best male lead actor in a motion picture. His role as Richard Williams is one of the best performances in his entire career. Will Smith’s attempt to properly honor Richard Williams made him go above and beyond in his performance. He was known to practice often to match the speaking patterns and movements of Richard Williams while adding his style of acting.
Supporting Actress: Ariana Debose, West Side Story
Taking home the award for best actress in a supporting role was Ariana DeBose. Her reinterpretation of the character Anita resonated with today’s new generation of moviegoers. Ariana DeBose effectively portrayed issues of colorism and racism within Anita’s Latino community and how it affected the character’s perception of the world.
British Short Film: The Black Cop
The edgy docu-drama, The Black Cop, won the award for Best British Short Film. The film explores the life of a former police officer's experience of being both victim and perpetrator of racism in the police force. The Black Cop tackles issues the world faces today with racism, homophobia, police corruption, and institutional oppression.
EE Rising Star Award: Lashana Lynch
The No Time To Die actor Lashana Lynch took home the EE Rising Star award at the BAFTA Film Awards 2022. The EE Rising Star Award is the only award at BAFTA determined by a public vote. As the first woman and the first woman of color to be named 007, Lashana Lynch is establishing herself as an internationally renowned actor.