BAFTA/Ian Derry The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles is pleased to announce it will honor award-winning comedian, actor, writer and director Ricky Gervais with the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy at this year’s British Academy Britannia Awards.
The annual gala celebration will take place on Friday, October 28, 2016 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. As previously announced, the evening will be hosted for a second time by British actor and comedian Jack Whitehall. Ang Lee will be honored with the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing, and Samuel L. Jackson will be honored with the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment. World-renowned television and event production company Done + Dusted will produce the ceremony.
The Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy bears the name of the consummate British comedic artist and one of the most universally recognized personalities in the history of entertainment. The Award recognizes talent whose popularity and cultural impact exemplifies the uniquely transcendent quality of excellent comedy.
“Ricky Gervais is a comic genius. He is provocative, edgy, and his observations on life have brought us some of the best comedy moments ever in television and film” said BAFTA Los Angeles CEO Chantal Rickards. “He crosses the pond with consummate ease, continues to push the comedic boundaries, and we’re looking forward to raising a glass to his incomparable talents at the Britannia Awards.”
The British Academy Britannia Awards evening is BAFTA’s big night out in Hollywood, where Brits and anglophiles alike come together in celebration of exceptional individuals who have dedicated their careers to advancing the art forms of the moving image in the US, UK and beyond. 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. The Britannia Awards are BAFTA Los Angeles’ highest accolades, recognizing both outstanding British talent, and exceptional international talent by virtue of their strong connection to the British industry through their body of work. Proceeds from the event support BAFTA Los Angeles’ on-going education, scholarship, community outreach and archival projects.
Creator and star of ‘The Office’ and ‘Extras’, Ricky Gervais has won three Golden Globes®, two Primetime Emmys® and seven BAFTAS. ‘The Office’ is the most successful British comedy of all time, shown in more than 90 countries with seven remakes. The NBC version is the most successful US remake of a British show in more than 30 years.
Considered one of the most influential British comedians, Gervais is an award-winning stand-up comedian, with four international tours to date. His live stand up show ‘Fame’ became the fastest selling UK stand-up show in history.
Gervais is also featured in The Guinness Book of World Records for having the most downloaded internet show of all time. He has written, directed, produced and starred in ‘Cemetery Junction’, ‘The Invention of Lying’, and starred in ‘Ghost Town.’ In 2010, he was named in TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World and awarded the Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award from the Banff World Television Festival. Also that year, Gervais was asked to be the first host of the Golden Globes® since 1995, for a broadcast seen by an estimated 250 million. Gervais has since hosted the Golden Globes® in 2011, 2012, and was invited back for a fourth time in January 2016.
In 2012, HBO aired ‘Life’s Too Short’ and the third season of ‘The Ricky Gervais Show’, and Ricky wrote, directed and starred in ‘Derek’ for Channel 4 and Netflix.
2013 was just as busy, with an international release of 'An Idiot Abroad 3: The Short Way Round', taking the lead role in ‘Muppets Most Wanted’ and production on series 2 of the award-winning ‘Derek’, both of which were released in 2014. On April 3, 2015 Gervais reprised his Golden Globe nominated role as Derek, in a one-hour finale special on Netflix.
Most recently, Gervais starred in ‘Special Correspondents’ an original comedy film, which debuted worldwide on Netflix in 2016. The film is written and directed by Gervais, and also starred Eric Bana, America Ferrera and Vera Farmiga.
Gervais can soon be seen in the upcoming 2016 fake documentary comedy film, ‘David Brent: Life on the Road.’ The film is written, directed, and produced by Gervais. Netflix has acquired global rights (excluding the U.K., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand) to the film which will be available to audiences in 2017.
The 2015 ceremony took place in October at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Harrison Ford received the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment, Orlando Bloom received the Britannia Humanitarian Award presented by the Beazley Group, Meryl Streep received the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film, Sam Mendes received the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing presented by the GREAT Britain campaign, James Corden received the Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year presented by Burberry and Amy Schumer received the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy presented by Kodak.
The British Academy Britannia Awards is produced through a partnership between BAFTA Los Angeles and Done & Dusted. Event Production and Management is by MTA Events.
For further information:
Elyse Weissman at SLATE PR
T (310) 461-0114
About BAFTA
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts supports, develops and promotes the art forms of the moving image by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public. In addition to its Awards ceremonies, BAFTA has a year-round programme of learning events and initiatives – featuring workshops, masterclasses, scholarships, lectures and mentoring schemes – in the UK, USA and Asia; it offers unique access to the world’s most inspiring talent and connects with a global audience of all ages and backgrounds. To access the best creative minds in film, TV and games production, visit www.bafta.org/guru. For more, visit www.bafta.org.
Founded in 1987, BAFTA Los Angeles serves as a bridge between the Hollywood and British production and entertainment business communities. Its commitment to professional and community education is at the heart of all activity, including an award-winning community outreach programme, screenings, seminars, Behind Closed Doors series, Q&As, scholarships for British students studying in the US, a Newcomers Program for emerging British talents working in the US, and a Heritage Archive project that preserves in-depth interviews with the industry's leading talents for future generations. BAFTA Los Angeles celebrates and promotes excellence through its annual Britannia Awards, Awards Season Film and Television Tea Parties and the Student Film Awards.
BAFTA Los Angeles is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Corporation and relies on income from membership subscriptions, individual donations, trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships to support its ongoing work. www.bafta.org/losangeles
