Film4-backed 12 Years a Slave wins Best Film at the BAFTAs

Steve McQueen’s Film4-backed 12 Years a Slave won Best Film at tonight’s BAFTAs, with Chiwetel Ejiofor being named Best Actor for his portrayal of Solomon Northup in the critically-acclaimed film. 

Tessa Ross, Controller of Film and Drama at Channel 4, says:
“We’re thrilled that Steve and Chiwetel have been honoured by BAFTA.  It’s always special to receive recognition on home soil, so we’re particularly proud that the industry has acknowledged two incredible British talents and this wonderful film with these awards tonight.”

The awards cement Film4’s position as one of the leading supporters of film in the UK.  They follow a multitude of accolades heaped on Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, including Best Film at the Golden Globes last month, and ten Academy Award nominations for the forthcoming Oscars.  12 Years a Slave is Film4’s third collaboration with Steve McQueen following the critically-acclaimed Hunger and Shame.  

Film4, headed by Tessa Ross, is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division. Film4 develops and co-finances films and is known for working with the most innovative talent in the UK, whether new or established.

Film4 has developed and co-financed many of the most successful UK films of recent years, Academy Award-winners such as Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges and Phyllida Lloyd’s The Iron Lady; critically-acclaimed award-winners such as Mike Leigh’s Another Year, Chris Morris’ Four Lions, Shane Meadows’ This is England, Ben Wheatley’s Sightseers and Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant; the most successful British comedy at the UK box office, Ben Palmer’s The Inbetweeners Movie; and most recently Steve McQueen’s third collaboration with Film4 following Hunger and Shame, the multi Academy Award-nominated 12 Years a Slave.

Film4’s upcoming slate includes Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin, Richard Ayoade’s The Double, David Mackenzie’s Starred Up, Lone Sherfig’s Posh, Lenny Abrahamson’s Frank, Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard’s 20,000 Days on Earth, Kevin Macdonald’s Black Sea, Justin Kurzel’s Macbeth, Debbie Tucker Green’s Second Coming, Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner, Ken Loach’s Jimmy’s Hall, Alex Garland’s Ex Machina, Yann Demange’s ’71, Damon Beesley and Iain Morris’s The Inbetweeners Movie II, James Griffiths’s Cuban Fury and Anton Corbijn’s A Most Wanted Man.

For further information visit www.film4.com/productions

@Film4Insider