The red carpet was rolled out at St David’s Hall in Cardiff on Sunday, as stars of the big and small screen attended the 25th BAFTA Cymru Awards.
Film and TV actors Aneurin Barnard and Craig Roberts, Welsh acting legend Dame Sian Philips, Casualty and Holby’s Amanda Mealing and Game of Thrones actor Robert Pugh were among the stars in attendance.
Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens hosted the awards show for another year.
To celebrate 25 yrs of BAFTA Cymru awards the ceremony starts with a video of BAFTAs past – 1991 onwards – with this year’s presenter Hugh Stevens dropped into frame alongside awards presenters and winners of the day. Stephens’ opening speech jokes about Europe (the house band playing people offstage with The Final Countdown); England’s performance in the Euros and an obligatory joke about The Great British Bake Off.
Before the awards start being given out, we get a video montage of Welsh TV and films that contain tonight’s nominees.
Documentary film Mr Calzaghe – including Vaughan Sivell taking the award for Director: Factual; bi-lingual police drama Hinterland/Y Gwyll, Yr Ymadawiad and Tim Rhys Evans’s mental health documentary All In The Mind picked up multiple awards on the night.
The first award of the night, for TV drama, presented by Torchwood actors Naoko Mori and Gareth David Lloyd went to Hinterland/Y Gwyll wins.
Factual Series Winner: ‘Music for Misfits: The Story of Indie’ proved a popular winner.
Gotham star Erin Richards presented the Actor Award to Mark Lewis Jones. While later in the awards Game of Thrones’ Robert Pugh presented the Actress Award to Mali Harries – dedicating her award to her late uncle who, she joked, said “it’s never too late to teach” after watching her perform at the RSC. This was Hinterland’s second award of the night.
One of the biggest names of the night – and an attendee at the first BAFTA Cymru Awards back in 1991 – who better to presented the ‘Sian Philips award’ than Dame Sian Philips herself. Presented to Oscar nominated makeup artist Sian Grigg, but not before a congratulations video from Leonardo Di Caprio.
Craig Roberts misses out on Writer Award for his film Just Jim, – also his directorial debut – but at the age of 25 there are sure to be many other nominations in the future.
In light of the recent news of his dementia diagnosis, it was extra poignant that the BAFTA Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to to Film & Television this year went to actor, director, writer and one sixth of Monty Python – Terry Jones. Fellow Python Michael Palin presented Jones with the award, introducing his old friend with a funny, warm and affectionate speech. Jones received a standing ovation from the audience and was clearly emotional, speaking on his father’s behalf, Bill Jones told the crowd that the award was a “great honour”.
Winners:
Television Drama: Hinterland/Y Gwyll
Production Design: Tim Dickel Yr Ymadawiad
Director: Factual: Vaughan Sivell Mr Calzaghe
Photography Factual: Aled Jenkins Patagonia with Huw Edwards
Factual Series: Music for Misfits: The Story of Indie
Entertainment Programme: Les Miserables Y Daith i’r Llwyfan
Children’s Programme (Including Animation): Dad
Short Film: My Brief Eternity: Ar Awyr Le
Special Achievement in Feature/Television Film: Mr Calzaghe
Actor: Mark Lewis Jones Yr Ymadawiad
Current Affairs: Life After April
News Coverage: Argyfwng y Mudwyr
Live Outside Broadcast: Côr Cymru – Y Rownd Derfynol
Editing: Madoc Roberts Tim Rhys Evans: All In The Mind
Sound: Mr Calzaghe
Sian Phillips Award Recipient: Sian Grigg.
Actress Award: Mali Harries Hinterland/Y Gwyll
Special & Visual Effects, Titles & Graphic Identity: Doctor Who, The Magician’s Apprentice
Director: Fiction: Lee Haven Jones 35 Diwrnod
Single Documentary: Tim Rhys-Evans: All in the Mind
Writer: Ed Talfan Yr Ymadawiad
Presenter: Will Millard Hunters of the South Seas
BAFTA Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to Film & Television Recipient: Terry Jones