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Lion - Winners' acceptance speech, Adapted Screenplay, EE British Academy Film Awards in 2017

12 February 2017

Winners' acceptance speech by Luke Davies for Lion in the Adapted Screenplay category

LUKE DAVIES: Thanks to the Academy and the voters.

A few quick thanks. I guess I will start at the beginning with our producers, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Angie Fielder and Harvey Weinstein, who championed this film all the way through, including the championing of its unusual structure.

Speaking of that structure, to the incredible Sunny Pawar, a 5-year old, non-professional actor, who carries this entire film for its first half and is a discovery for the ages.

And to Dev Patel, a professional actor, who then takes the film and makes it his own for the second half.

To all of our other cast and crew, Nicole Kidman, David Wenham, Rooney Mara, Priyanka Bose, Divian Ladwa, for making the film glow so much.

And finally, and most importantly of all, this is for Garth Davis, our beloved director. Whatever the merits of my screenplay, it is Garth who took the screenplay and turned it into the beautiful film about love and inclusivity that it is, and for you, Garth, thank you for doing that.

Thanks very much.