14/12/2005

In a historical year which sees the triumph of independently produced films for less than $30m (€25m), the 63rd annual Golden Globes Awards will be an exciting event for UK film professionals and talents strongly represented in all top categories.
Woody Allen’s Match Point backed by BBC Films and sold by London-based Hanway Films collects the most nominations (4). Allen’s first film shot in London will compete against the UK film The Constant Gardener [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Fernando Meirelles in three categories for Best Film-Drama, Best director and Best performing actress in a supporting role (respectively Scarlett Johansson and Rachel Weisz).

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The acting categories are in fact were the UK contingent is the strongest: Dame Judi Dench gets her 6th opportunity to come to the Golden Globes thanks to her portrayal of the strong-tempered widow Mrs Henderson in Stephen Frears Mrs Henderson Presents. The actor Bob Hoskins who was executive producer on the film is also nominated in the supporting role category.
Keira Knightley’s role as Elizabeth Bennet in Working Title’s successful screen adaptation of Pride & Prejudice has helped her get her first Golden Globes nomination. Both Pride & Prejudice and Mrs Henderson Presents will run for the Best Film award-musical or comedy, a good opportunity for their respective US distributors Focus Features and The Weinstein Company to get extra coverage and attention on the films currently on US screens.

Another film with UK involvement gets a chance to win a Golden Globe in Los Angeles on 16 January: Gavin Hood’s South African drama Tsotsi which will run for Best Foreign Language Film. Co-produced by The UK Film & TV Production Company, Tsotsi is winning audience awards and critical praise around the world since its Edinburgh launch last August and it will be released in the UK by Momentum, in Spain by Aurum, in Germany by Kinowelt, in France by MK2, in Portugal by Castello Lopes, and in Greece by Rosebud.