The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is delighted to announce that Joe Dunton will receive the award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema at the Orange British Academy Film Awards ceremony at London’s Royal Opera House on Sunday 21 February 2010. Dunton is one of the off-camera heroes of the British film industry: he has supported filmmakers and has been instrumental in the development of equipment used globally by film productions in his career spanning over four decades.

Awarded annually, the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award was introduced in 1978 and is presented in honour of Michael Balcon. The first recipients were the Special Visual Effects team for Superman and others include Mike Leigh, Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jarman, Lewis Gilbert, Channel Four Films, production manager Joyce Herlihy and stuntman Vic Armstrong. Last year’s winner was Pinewood and Shepperton Studios.

During his career, Joe has revolutionised the technology that is used as standard in the industry today such as the first heated camera eyepiece, the ladderpod and his work on Oliver was crucial in the development of a system which is now commonly known as ‘video assist’, which allows filmmakers to see what is being shot.

He has worked with the great filmmakers of our generation including George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Mike Leigh and he enjoyed a particularly close relationship with Stanley Kubrick, whom he started working with on A Clockwork Orange. He has most recently worked on the Harry Potter series and Rob Marshall’s Nine, both of which are BAFTA-nominated this year.

David Parfitt, Chair of the Academy said: “I’m delighted that we are honouring the work of Joe Dunton. Whilst not a household name, he is a stellar name in our industry, behind some of the greatest films of our time.”

The Orange British Academy Film Awards will be hosted by Jonathan Ross and broadcast on BBC One from 9pm on Sunday 21 February. A Red Carpet Special hosted by George Lamb will be on BBC Three from 7.30pm.

Film 0910 Outstanding British Contribution To Cinema (173.5 KB)

For further information, please contact Freud Communications:

Jo Fernihough or Vicky Grayson
020 3003 6386 / 020 3003 6327
[email protected] / [email protected]