You are here

Beast - Winners' Acceptance Speech, Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer, EE British Academy Film Awards in 2019

10 February 2019

Winner's acceptance speech by Michael Pearce and Lauren Dark for Beast in the Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer category 

LAUREN DARK:  Thank you so much.  

Thank you, BAFTA, and thank you our most supportive partners, Film4 and BFI, and Protagonist and Altitude.  

Thank you, Myles Payne, Agile, Kristian Brodie.  

My family, who I don't know how we all made it in here somehow.  

But most of all I want to thank my friend and my producing partner and my colleague, Ivana MacKinnon, because none of us could have done it without you.

MICHAEL PEARCE:  Thank you, BAFTA, for this incredible honour.  Thank you to the lots of wonderful people who helped make this film.  My producers, Lauren, Ivana, Kristian, Myles.  The BFI, Film4.  All the cast and crew, I really wish I could name everyone, but I can't.  But you know I love you.  

But special shout-out to Jessie Buckley and Johnny Flynn.  I can't quantify what you guys gave to the film.  You were so passionate and committed and you had my back all the way.  Thank you so much.

Very quickly, I want to thank my dad, who is way up there.  He told me recently his childhood dream was to be an actor, but his parents didn't want him to do that.  They didn't think it was a realistic ambition.  

So I want to say: thank you, Dad, for letting me pursue this dream.  I wouldn't be here without you.  I'm sorry for cutting you out of the movie, he was an extra in a scene, but it was too -- it wasn't him; he was really good!

My agent, Jack Thomas.  My girlfriend, Nicole.  My brother.  My mates.  I love you.  Thank you.