London, 19 January 2017: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has announced today that this year’s BAFTA-nominated short films, supported by American Airlines, will be available to watch exclusively on video on-demand service, Curzon Home Cinema, from 27 January. Audiences across the UK and overseas will also be able to see a compilation of this year’s BAFTA-nominated short films and animations in cinemas from 10 February. BAFTA Shorts 2017 is supported by American, the world’s largest airline; connecting customers to leading film and entertainment destinations around the globe.
The nominated films, which were chosen by a jury of leading industry figures, represent the best of British short filmmaking, and showcase innovative and exciting British talent. The winners, as voted for by the wider BAFTA membership, will be announced at the EE British Academy Film Awards on 12 February at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
For the first time, the BAFTA-nominated shorts will be made available to watch online through Curzon Home Cinema. This marks the first time that audiences across the UK and Ireland will be able to view a compilation of all eight nominated shorts online prior to the awards ceremony. Since 2010, Curzon has been at the forefront of expanding the horizons of film distribution with the launch of its premium video on-demand platform. Andrew Haigh’s BAFTA-nominated 45 Years (2015) became the first film to gross over £1 million at the box-office whilst being simultaneously released online via the platform. At this year’s EE British Academy Film Awards, Curzon will also be honoured with the award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema.
For a fifth year BAFTA is partnering with the Independent Cinema Office (ICO) to distribute the films in the UK in cinemas, and the British Council, which will tour the films internationally through its global network. Last year’s programme visited over 30 UK venues and travelled to a wide variety of countries including Spain, Latvia, Indonesia, Russia, Ukraine, Rwanda and Bosnia and Herzegovina. At selected screenings, audiences will be able to take part in exclusive Q&A sessions with the filmmakers.
Previous BAFTA shorts nominees and winners have gone on to receive BAFTA recognition for their feature-length projects, including directors Paddy Considine (Tyrannosaur), Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths), Chris Morris (Four Lions), Sam Taylor-Johnson (Nowhere Boy), Joe Wright (Atonement, Pride & Prejudice) and David Yates (Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2), and producer Mark Herbert (This Is England).
Amanda Berry OBE, Chief Executive of BAFTA, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Curzon to showcase the BAFTA-nominated shorts to an online audience for the very first time. It is vital that the work of talented British filmmakers is given the widest possible audience.”
Phil Mordecai, Director, Curzon Home Cinema said: “We’re delighted to be the exclusive online home for this year’s collection of BAFTA nominated shorts. Congratulations to all of the filmmakers whose superb work we are very proud to be bringing to homes nationwide via our virtual Curzon venue.”
A spokesperson from American Airlines Group said: “As the preferred airline of the global entertainment and film industry, American Airlines has always recognised the very best film makers and grassroots talent on both sides of the Atlantic. As a proud supporting partner of the BAFTA Shorts 2017, American is further cementing their commitment to the film industry in London.”
Jemma Desai Film Programme British Council said: “We’re really excited to be partnering up with BAFTA again for the 2017 line up. This year’s selection is a great window into the diversity of emerging Brit filmmaking talent and storytelling and we’re very much looking forward to unleashing this year’s nominees on international audiences!”
The international rollout of BAFTA Shorts 2017 Supported by American Airlines begins with a special premiere screening at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly on Thursday 26 January.
To watch the BAFTA-nominated short films online from Friday 27 January, visit Curzon Home Cinema: https://www.curzonhomecinema.com/
For venues and showtimes of screenings, and to watch the BAFTA Shorts 2017 trailer, visit the BAFTA website: https://www.bafta.org/film/awards/british-short-film-british-short-animation
To book the BAFTA-nominated shorts for exhibition, visit the ICO website: http://www.independentcinemaoffice.org.uk/films/baftashorts2017
Interviews with the nominated filmmakers will be available on BAFTA Guru (www.bafta.org/guru), BAFTA’s online learning channel.
The EE British Academy Film Awards will take place on Sunday 12 February at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
The nominated shorts in the BAFTA Shorts 2017 programme:
BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION
THE ALAN DIMENSION Jac Clinch, Jonathan Harbottle, Millie Marsh
A LOVE STORY Khaled Gad, Anushka Kishani Naanayakkara, Elena Ruscombe-King
TOUGH Jennifer Zheng
BRITISH SHORT FILM
CONSUMED Richard John Seymour
HOME Shpat Deda, Afolabi Kuti, Daniel Mulloy, Scott O’Donnell
MOUTH OF HELL Bart Gavigan, Samir Mehanovic, Allie Smith, Michael Wilson
THE PARTY Farah Abushwesha, Emmet Fleming, Andrea Harkin, Conor MacNeill
STANDBY Jack Hannon, Charlotte Regan
For more information, please contact:
Charlotte Inett / Marie Zeraati at freuds
T: 020 3003 6350 / 020 3003 6418
E: [email protected] / [email protected]
Eleanor Pickering at BAFTA
T: +44 (0) 20 7292 5863
E: [email protected]
For photography, visit www.bafta.org/press/images.
