Finola Dwyer Wins Bafta

Irish emigrant saga Brooklyn, which was produced by New Zealander Finola Dwyer, was named best British picture on Sunday at the British Academy Film Awards.

“The British awards, known as BAFTAs, are considered a portent of success at Hollywood’s Feb. 28 Academy Awards.”

Earlier this year Dwyer said: “The more I thought about it, the more I saw Brooklyn as a universal story because everybody leaves home, even if they’re not changing countries or continents, and then your relationship with it changes forever.”

The movie awards season had been dominated by debate about why the film industry remains dominated by white men. All the acting nominees for the Oscars both this year and last have been white.

The BAFTAs are slightly more diverse, with two black actors nominated — Idris Elba in the supporting actor group for “Beasts of No Nation” and Boyega, the favorite in the rising star category.

“Our industry isn’t diverse enough, so the pool of people to draw award winners from isn’t diverse enough,” said Amanda Berry, the head of the British film academy.

Article Source: New York Times, February 14, 2016

Image Source: Youtube