30/01/2014 - Chiwetel Ejiofor wins acting honour, Alfonso Cuarón directing accolade

The UK’s Regional Film Critics have chosen Steve McQueen’s 12 Years A Slave [+see also:
trailer
making of
interview: Michael Fassbender
film profile] as film of the year at their annual awards, named after their founding patron Richard (Lord) Attenborough CBE. Chiwetel Ejiofor was voted Actor Of The Year for his performance in 12 Years A Slave and Cate Blanchett Actress for Blue Jasmine. McQueen said, “This means so much to me. Thank you for your help in making the film such a success throughout the UK.”

Director Of The Year went to Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity [+see also:
trailer
making of
film profile]. Cuarón said, “It's particularly gratifying to receive this honour from the UK regional film critics. Your encouraging words helped pave the road for audiences to really embrace the film. Gravity was produced, shot and all the post-production done here in the UK. I had the privilege of working with hundreds of talented British artists and I share this with all of them. I'd like to single out everyone at Framestore; our incredible crew, particularly our cinematographer and my dear friend Chivo [Emmanuel Lubezki]; our visual effects supervisor Tim Webber; my producing partner, David Heyman; and my son and co-writer, Jonas. Lastly, I’d like to thank Sandra Bullock who fully conveyed the emotional journey of this character - the heartbeat of this story.”

Film journalists and bloggers who write or broadcast for local media throughout the UK vote for the winners. In recognition of their accomplishments, winners receive a plinth-mounted award engraved with Attenborough’s signature.

Winners:

Critics vote

Film Of The Year
12 Years A Slave

Director
Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity

Screenwriter
Spike Jonze, Her

Actor
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave

Actress
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

British Breakthrough Award
George MacKay

Public vote

British Film of the Year
Philomena

Blogger of the year
Ryan Lambie, Den of Geek!

Animation of the Year
Frozen

Eye Popping Visual Effects
Gravity

On Screen Duo
Emma Thompson/Tom Hanks, Saving Mr Banks