Unit 4. Reading

The BAFTAs or the Oscars?

Do you know anything about the BAFTA awards? It’s not surprising if you don’t, because many people see the awards as just a practice for the Oscars. However, BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television) started in 1947 and their award ceremony was first held in 1948. The awards were not shown on television until 1967, but since then more and more people have started to watch. In 2011 the viewing figures were up to 5.3 million, and the awards are now a well-known event in the film industry calendar.

The BAFTA awards ceremony celebrates the best of film and television every year. Although it does have some special categories just for British films, it also awards prizes to many foreign films and programmes (usually American). When the award ceremony began in 1948, there was just one category and one prize – for best film. Nowadays there are over 25 award categories, including awards for current affairs programmes and sports programmes, as well as the usual awards for best actor and actress.

Awards are usually presented by actors or actresses, but in the past, members of the British royal family have also presented them. The prize is a golden mask statue. One of the eyes in the mask is missing, which makes it look quite strange.

The BAFTA awards ceremony used to happen in April or March, but in 2002 they changed the date to February to make sure that the ceremony came before the Oscars. The Oscars now often nominate the same films, actors and actresses for prizes (even though the same actors and actresses don’t always win). This happens so often that the BAFTAs are now seen as a good way to predict Oscar nominations. So if you are interested in the Oscars, it is worth watching the BAFTAs first.