The penultimate film in the series may only be up for two BAFTAs on Sunday night — ones it probably won’t win — but devoted “Harry Potter” fans have been given an extra reason to tune in, as the entire series is being honored by the British Academy with their Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award.
This annual honorary award has previously been presented to individuals like Mike Leigh, Derek Jarman and Kenneth Branagh, as well as studios like Pinewood and Working Title, but this is, to my knowledge, the first time it’s been given to an actual film franchise. Author J.K. Rowling and producer David Heyman will accept.
It’s an appropriate acknowledgement for a cultural phenomenon that has delighted millions for an entire decade, generated a fortune for the UK film industry and kept at least half of Britain’s acting stock in steady employment, but the timing of the award strikes me as odd — why not wait until next year, when the series is complete and running its final victory lap?
Perhaps the award is doubling as a preemptive sop to those fans who would otherwise be nagging BAFTA to consider “Harry Potter and the Death Hallows: Part 1” for above-the-line awards next year. That said, the Brits been more generous to the films over the years than the American Academy: since 2001, they’ve racked up 23 BAFTA nominations (including one win for production designer Stuart Craig) to just nine Oscar mentions. They’ve even crept beyond the technical categories on occasion: the first and third installments were both nominated for Best British Film, with actor Robbie Coltrane snagging a bid for the former.
Will Sunday’s prestigious award forestall any sentimental obligation voters might feel towards the series next year? I suspect so.
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14 responses to “BAFTA honors ‘Harry Potter’ series”
Speaking of BAFTA, and as much I feel bad about using these comment boards to plug my own stuff, here’s my BAFTA Preview & Predictions column, just posted on EatSleepLiveFilm.com
http://j.mp/h9PzYH
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Congrats Bradley
I’m glad the Potter franchise is finally get some well deserved recognition.
Guy, is the name of the Award “Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema” (as opposed to something like “Oustanding Contribution to British Cinema”)?
I won’t argue against the designation itself or the people who received it (they clearly deserved it) but the name nevertheless strikes me as being a bit… presumptuous.
In the same vein something like World Series is in US.
I think this is a well deserved award for the Harry Potter franchise. It truly has made an impact in the British film industry creatively and financially. I read a while ago that because of the success of the HP franchise, WB decided to buy Leavesden Studios, so they could make more films in Britain.
I don’t know what’s going to happen at next year’s Oscars, but I’m hoping that they would at least honor Stuart Craig’s production design. He has basically constructed a entirely new alternate world. He has already won a BAFTA. Next year (or maybe even this year), I hope he finally gets an Oscar for his decade-long work in the HP films.
It’s a much deserved award whenever it comes to them. Regardless of their awards potential in standard categories it’s been 8 films in ten years with the same principal cast telling primarily one story. It’s an incredible acheivement regardless of mixed reactions to the way the series has evolved.
Personally, I love the films when I watch them in the cinema, but find them strangely un rewatchable except Azkaban and Phoenix.
The series has done wonders for the industry, and while I’ve not had the chance to work on one yet, nearly everyone else I meet has had a hand in one of them somewhere along the line.
Fun note: a large portion of below the line talent on this year’s War Horse is comprised of Harry Potter franchise veterans.
Oh and cheers Afrika! :D
I’m hoping that this doesn’t “forestall any sentimental obligation”, but that it actually begins a momentum toward rewarding the Potter franchise. And not just in Britain, but at the Oscars.
If any blockbuster deserves a slot in “the Ten” next year, I submit for your consideration Deathly Hallows Pt. II. (OK, I haven’t even seen a trailer yet, but I’m hoping it’s a return to Azkaban/Fire/Phoenix form.)
The Potter films have been so well made, well acted and well designed for so long that they are, to use a favorite Oscar season word, OVERDUE.
WB has never really campaigned the films but I’m sure they’ll go all out next year for the final film. It should land at least a few technical noms and wins (especially for Craig) and could see itself in Best Picture and an acting race or two. Very unlikely but I can see them honoring one of the main cast. The Globes probably will.
Maxim: No, that’s the name of the award. Given that the award is for British individuals or organisations who may have contributed not only to British cinema, but also to Hollywood and/or other national cinemas, the name makes perfect sense. Nothing presumptuous about it.
Guy, the presumptuous part isn’t the fact that it’s British talent. It’s the fact that the conrtibution was made on a Global scale. Maybe they did contribute to the world cinema. But isn’t it a little, wel,l you know, to speak on their behalf?
This reads worse than intended. Perhaps you’ll understand better if you do a thought experiment. Suppose some random city in some random small country puts up their own version of this award.
The Harry film series has given me countless hours of pleasure for over 10 years. And I am glad to see any kind of recognition for it whatsoever.
Maxim: You’re reading too much into the phrasing. I wouldn’t have a problem with Outstanding Luxembourgian Contribution to Cinema either. All the name of the award determines is that the person/organisation awarded needs to be British — not necessarily the films they worked on.
Well, it may seem odd to give that award now. But maybe the idea is to allow for the last film to be actually rewarded in itself as a closure for a truly excellent franchise. I don’t know about the Oscars, but the three young leads and the villain can expect a nomination at next year’s Baftas.