02/02/2011

It’s the middle of the awards season and as usual whilst waiting for the double whammy of the BAFTAs and the Oscars, British films have been amassing awards by the bushel in the US over the past week.

At Sundance, the World Cinema Directing Award: Documentary was presented to Project Nim [+see also:
trailer
film profile], directed by James Marsh (Man on Wire [+see also:
trailer
film profile]).

The World Cinema Directing Award: Dramatic was presented to Tyrannosaur [+see also:
trailer
film profile], written and directed by Paddy Considine. The film also won the World Cinema Special Jury Prize, Dramatic, for Breakout Performances for actors Olivia Colman and Peter Mullan. Tyrannosaur was produced by Diarmid Scrimshaw for Warp X and Inflammable Films, co-funded by the UK Film Council (UKFC), Film4, Screen Yorkshire, Optimum Releasing, EM Media, Madman and NonStop Entertainment.

Tanya Seghatchian, Head of the UKFC’s Film Fund said, “We are incredibly proud to have supported these two extraordinary filmmakers who have brought to screen compelling and profound stories in Project Nim and Tyrannosaur, both of which have made such a significant impact with audiences and critics at Sundance.”

The Sundance honour roll continued with Senna winning the World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary for director Asif Kapadia (The Warrior [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) and Danfung Dennis’ US/UK Hell and Back Again scooping the World Cinema Jury Prize: Documentary.

In addition, Tom Hooper won Best Director at the Directors Guild of America awards for The King's Speech [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Tom Hooper
film profile] and at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards the film won Best Cast and Colin Firth Best Actor. Christian Bale won Best Supporting Actor at SAG for his role in The Fighter.