Film4-backed films scoop three major Oscars

29 February 2016

Film4-backed films scoop three major Oscars® including Best Actress and Best Documentary Feature

Lenny Abrahamson’s Room, Asif Kapadia’s Amy and Alex Garland’s Ex Machina are honoured at the 88th Academy Awards

Room and Todd Haynes’ Carol also score key wins at the 31st Independent Spirit Awards

 

Films backed by Film4, the UK’s leading film development and financing company, took home major Oscars® for three of its internationally acclaimed titles - Room, Amy and Ex Machina- at last night’s 88th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

Brie Larson picked up the Best Actress award for Lenny Abrahamson’s Room, Asif Kapadia’s Amy was honored as Best Documentary Feature and Alex Garland’s Ex Machina received the Best Visual Effects Award.

“On behalf of everyone at Film4 and Channel 4, I want to congratulate Brie Larson and the team behind Room, Amy’s Asif Kapadia and James Gay-Rees, and the Ex Machina visual effects team Andrew Whitehurst, Paul Norris, Mark Ardington, and Sara Bennett —on their well-deserved Oscar wins. I’m immensely proud of all our films and the remarkable filmmakers who have shared their vision and talent with us – it’s been an honour to be part of their journey. Supporting the British film industry both at home and globally is at the heart of everything we do at Film4 and I’m thrilled that the Academy has recognised this broad range of unique voices and stories,” said David Kosse, Director of Film4.

Abrahamson’s Room and Todd Haynes’ Carol were also honoured in key categories at the 31st annual Independent Spirit Awards, held in Santa Monica on Saturday. Brie Larson won Best Actress, and Best First Screenplay was awarded to Emma Donoghue for Room. The Best Cinematography award went to Ed Lachman for Carol.

Film4 received a record 15 Oscar nominations this year for Todd Haynes’ Carol, Lenny Abrahamson’s Room, Alex Garland’s Ex Machina, Andrew Haigh’s 45 Years, Paolo Sorrentino’s Youth and Asif Kapadia’s documentary feature Amy.

 

About Film4:

Film4 is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division. Film4 develops and co-finances films and is known for working with the most distinctive and innovative talent in the UK, whether new or established. It recently announced an increase in its funding this year from £15m to £25 million.

Film4 has developed and co-financed many of the most successful UK films of recent years, Academy Award-winners such as Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges and Phyllida Lloyd’s The Iron Lady in addition to critically-acclaimed award-winners such as Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner, Chris Morris’ Four Lions, Shane Meadows’ This is England, Ben

Wheatley’s Sightseers, Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant, Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin David Mackenzie’s Starred Up and Yann Demange's '71

 

Film4’s recent releases include; Lenny Abrahamson’s Room, Todd Haynes’ Carol, Sarah Gavron’s Suffragette, Justin Kurzel’s Macbeth, Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Lobster, Asif Kapadia’s Amy, Andrew Haigh’s 45 Years, Alex Garland’s Ex Machina and Paolo Sorrentino’s Youth.

Forthcoming releases include; Susanna White’s Our Kind of Traitor, Ben Wheatley’s High-Rise and Free Fire, Ang Lee’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, Benedict Andrews’ Una and Andrea Arnold’s American Honey.