He joins previously announced honorees Dick Van Dyke, who will receive the Britannia Award for Excellence in Television, Ava DuVernay, who will receive the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing presented by The GREAT Britain Campaign, and Claire Foy, who will receive the Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year presented by Burberry. British comedian Jack Whitehall will return as host.
This year’s event will take place on Friday, October 27, 2017 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The event’s title sponsor is AMD, and the ceremony presented by American Airlines and Jaguar Land Rover.
“Kenneth is without question one of the most influential figures in the British film, television and theatre community, and his talents have brought him much-deserved international acclaim and recognition,” said BAFTA Los Angeles Chairman Kieran Breen. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate Kenneth’s work and honor him with this year’s Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment.”
Recipients of the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment are that rare breed of iconic and trail-blazing individuals whose talented, innovative approach and true global appeal has had a profound, lasting impact on the worldwide entertainment industry. Their masterful accomplishments, continue to dazzle, entertain, and inspire audiences around the world.
Kenneth Branagh has received five Academy Award nominations, across five different categories – Best Actor and Best Director for HENRY V, Best Live Action Short Film for SWAN SONG, Best Adapted Screenplay for HAMLET and Best Supporting Actor for MY WEEK WITH MARILYN. Branagh is directing, producing and starring as Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie’s MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. With an all-star cast, including Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Michelle Pfeiffer and Dame Judi Dench, 20th Century Fox will release the film in November. This summer Branagh appeared in Christopher Nolan’s critically acclaimed and box-office hit DUNKIRK. Recent film director credits include THOR, JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT with Branagh playing Viktor Cherevin, a powerful Russian oligarch and CINDERELLA with Cate Blanchett and Lily James. 2016 saw the end of Detective Kurt Wallander in the BAFTA winning series WALLANDER, the role which also earned him Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Branagh holds a prestigious Michael Balcon Award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and in 2013, he received a Knighthood for his services to drama and the community in Northern Ireland. In 2016, The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company completed its highly regarded award winning inaugural season of Plays at the Garrick Theatre in London’s West End. This Summer Branagh directed a new production of HAMLET, starring Tom Hiddleston, that ran for just three weeks. The production was a fund-raising venture for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where Branagh is President.
The AMD British Academy Britannia Awards is BAFTA’s biggest event outside of the UK, where Brits and anglophiles alike come together in Los Angeles in celebration of exceptional members of the creative community who have dedicated their careers to advancing the art forms of the moving image in the US, UK and beyond. The AMD Britannia Awards are BAFTA Los Angeles’ highest accolades, recognizing both outstanding British talent, and exceptional international talent by virtue of their strong connection to British entertainment through their body of work. Known to be an enjoyable evening that captures a unique blend of sincerity and British irreverence, the evening also serves to celebrate the long-standing collaboration between the British and American industries. Proceeds from the event support BAFTA’s Access for All campaign, a range of impactful educational initiatives created to provide a foot-in-the-door and a pathway to success for talented individuals, uninhibited by background, demographics or personal circumstance.
The 2016 ceremony took place on Friday, October 28 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and was hosted by British actor and comedian Ben “Doc Brown” Smith. Ang Lee was honored with the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing presented by the GREAT Britain Campaign, Samuel L. Jackson was honored with the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment, Ricky Gervais was honored with the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy, Ewan McGregor was honored with the Britannia Humanitarian Award, Felicity Jones was honored with the British Artist of the Year presented by Burberry, and Jodie Foster was honored with the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film presented by the Arya Group. World-renowned television and event production company Done + Dusted produced the ceremony, with Event Management by MTA Events.
BAFTA’s other key events include the highly-anticipated TV Tea on September 16, 2017, the BAFTA Tea Party in January and the EE British Academy Film Awards inLondon on February 18, 2018.
For further information:
Elyse Weissman at SLATE PR
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