Steve McQueen’s 12 Years A Slave has received the coveted Best Picture award at this year’s BAFTA ceremony, beating Gravity, American Hustle, Philomena and Captain Phillips.
Nominated for ten awards, on the night the Turner Prize-winning artist’s film picked up two awards, with Chiwetel Ejiofor winning Best Actor for his portrayal of Solomon Northup, the black American free man sold into slavery in the 1800s. The film is based on Northup’s book, published in 1853.
On picking up the Best Picture award, McQueen said: “There are 21 million people in slavery now as we sit here. I just hope that in 150 years from now our ambivalence will not allow another filmmaker to make this film.”
Ejiofor, who was up against Bruce Dern, Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks for the actor award, thanked McQueen, praising his “work, artistry and passion in this project,” adding: “This [award] is yours, you know that… I’m going to keep it, that’s the kind of guy I am, but it’s yours.”
McQueen was beaten to the Best Director award by Alfonso Cuarón, director of the British-made Gravity, starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as a pair of astronauts who have a spot of bother during a space walk. Gravity was the biggest winner of the evening, picking up six awards in total including Best British Film.
12 Years A Slave has already picked up a Golden Globe award for best film drama. It is also nominated for 10 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.
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