In a star-studded celebration of the best of UK talent from film, television, and music, the Newport Beach Film Festival kicked off BAFTA weekend with the Newport Beach Film Festival UK Honors on Feb. 7 at The Langham London.
For 20 years, the Newport Beach Film Festival, one of the fasted growing luxury lifestyle film festivals in the United States, has included a dedicated UK showcase during its 10-day program. Starting in 2015, the film festival and Visit Newport Beach partnered to elevate the connection to the UK industry by honoring talent via the Newport Beach Film Festival UK Honors held in London just ahead of the BAFTA Awards. Honors include Arts Champions, Breakout Talent, Artists of Distinction, Icons, and Outstanding Achievement in Cinema.In addition, starting in 2017, Variety, the entertainment industry bible, partnered to use the opportunity to present their annual list of 10 Brits to Watch.2019 Newport Beach Film Festival UK Honors HonoreesOUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN BRITISH CINEMA:Stan & Ollie – Jon S. Baird, Jeff PopeOUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN GLOBAL CINEMA:The FavoriteICON:Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey), Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread, All or Nothing), John Llyod (Blackadder, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy)ARTIST OF DISTINCTION:Rob Brydon (Gavin & Stacey, The Trip), Lily Cole (Balls, Snow White and the Huntsman), Richard Dormer (Game of Thrones, Fortitude), Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey, Liar), Laura Carmichael (Downton Abbey, A United Kingdom)BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST:Naomi Ackie (Lady Macbeth, The Bisexual), Ellie Bamber (Nocturnal Animals, High Resolution), Hannah John-Kamen (Ant-Man and the Wasp, Ready Player One), Louis Ashbourne Serkis (The Kid Who Would be King, Mowgli)ARTS CHAMPION:MediCinema, Women in Film and TelevisionPresented by Jenelle Riley, deputy awards and features editor, Variety’s 2019 10 Brits to Watch included Rhianne Barreto, Raffey Cassidy, Paapa Essiedu, Jess Glynne, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Billy Howle, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Jessica Swale, Joivan Wade, and Fionn Whitehead. Profiles of the talent appear in the magazine’s Feb. 5 issue and on Variety.com.Photos:
