Top honours for lottery-funded film, Brooklyn

The red carpet was awash with glitz and glamour as the biggest names in British and US film gathered for the BAFTAs 2016 at the lottery-funded Royal Opera House, in London’s Covent Garden.

And it was a great night for British film, Brooklyn, funded by The National Lottery through the BFI. It picked up the award for Outstanding British Film. Set in 1952, the film tells the story of a young Irish woman’s immigration to Brooklyn and stars Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, Domhnall Gleeson, Jim Broadbent and Julie Walters.

But it's not just Brooklyn that you can rightly celebrate — it was also a great night for talented young actor John Boyega, who picked up the EE Rising Star Award. Best known for his role as Finn in Star Wars: Episode VII –The Force Awakens, John also appeared in the lottery-funded films Attack the Block in 2011 and Half of a Yellow Sun in 2013 (staring alongside Oscar-nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Thandie Newton).

Brooklyn and 45 Years – another film funded by The National Lottery through BFI - are nominated for four Oscars®. The ceremony is on 28th February, so keep your fingers crossed for more success at the end of the month.

The National Lottery began funding the British film industry in 1994 and has funded some of the most popular and commercially successful films in British history. The films you've backed have picked up 40 BAFTAs and 12 Oscars® to date. And it's thanks to you, that over £500 million has been invested into film production, talent development and education. The Lottery-funded BFI Film Academy will soon have supported over 3,000 16-19 year olds to take their first steps into a career in film – ensuring more young talents, like John Boyega, are coming through.

Photo Caption: Winner of Outstanding British Film: Brooklyn Left-to-right: Julie Walters, Domhnall Gleeson, Saoirse Ronan, John Crowley, Finola Dwyer, Amanda Posey, Nick Hornby, Eileen O'Higgins

Picture Credit: BAFTA/Richard Kendal