The annual Screen Nation Film & Television Awards popularly known as ‘the black Bafta’s’ and acknowledged by the industry as ‘the’ media event for diverse talent returned once again to the South of London, as the UK’s only international celebration of black British achievement in film and TV.
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MALACHI KIRBY wins top award in MALE IN PERFORMANCE for ROOTS
ARINZE KENE, JUDITH SHEKONI, MICHAELA COLE & RUTH NEGGA trumps major talent with huge wins
DAMILOLA, OUR LOVED BOY wins DIVERSITY IN DRAMA PRODUCTION with a standing ovation
NOEL CLARKE wins ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM PRODUCTION for BROTHERHOOD
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Hosted by Brenda Emmanus (BBC London News Arts Correspondent) and DJ Abrantee (Capital Xtra drivetime radio presenter), the much-anticipated event took place on Sunday 7th May 2017 at the prestigious Park Plaza Riverbank hotel.
The lavish evening celebrating outstanding achievements on the British screen was attended by film and TV actors, actresses and directors; plus musicians and many of the nation’s best-loved celebrities and stars including:
Aml Ameen (Soy Nero), Arnold Oceng (Brotherhood/A United Kingdom), Babou Ceesay (Damilola, Our Loved Boy), Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon OBE, Benjamina Ebuehi (The Great British Bakeoff), Charles Venn (Casualty), David Ajala (Falling Water/Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands), Dylan Duffus (The Intent), Horace Ove CBE (Pressure/Playing Away/The Orchid House), Gbemisola Ikumelo (Sunny D), Isaach de Bankole (Double Play), Judi Shekoni (Ice/Ordinary Lies/Heroes Reborn), Malachi Kirby (Roots), Michelle John (The Voice UK), Natalie Gumede (Jekyll and Hyde/Death in Paradise), Osi Umenyiora (The NFL Show), Richard Taylor OBE, Samuel Boateng (The Apprentice), Sandi Bogle (Gogglebox), Sandra Martin (Gogglebox), Selasi Gbormittah (The Great British Bakeoff), Sope Dirisu (Undercover/Black Mirror), Stephen Bourne (Black in the British Frame), Susan Wokoma (Crazyhead), Wunmi Mosaku (Damilola, Our Loved Boy/Black Mirror) and many more.
Man of the hour, Malachi Kirby beat top contenders Adrian Lester, Babou Ceesay and Noel Clarke in the Male Performance in TV Award.
Top actresses Ruth Negga, Michaela Cole and Judith Shekoni fought off fierce competition in their categories each taking home an award in Female Performance in Film, Favourite Comedy Talent and Female Performance in TV.
Nominated in three categories, UK actor and director, Noel Clarke won the Achievement In Film Production Award.
A standing ovation was amongst the crowd when Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon OBE, the mother of Steven Lawrence presented the Diversity In Drama Production Award to the father of Damilola Taylor, Richard Taylor OBE and the cast of Damilola, Our Loved Boy.
The Screen Nation Executive Committee bestowed this year’s leading honour; the Outstanding Contribution Award upon the enigmatic Nigerian-Ivorian actor Isaach de Bankole. Honoured with the highly prized Edric Connor Trailblazer Award went to the legendary director, Horace Ove, popularly known as the ‘godfather of black British film’ who has a directing career spanning over half a century and is acknowledged as the first African Caribbean to make a feature film in the UK.
A very rarely presented special honorary Legacy Award was posthumously bestowed upon deceased screenwriter and playwright, Michael Abbensetts, who passed away in late 2016. The iconic comedic cricket themed TV drama Playing Away was also acknowledged with a Classic TV award leading up to its 40th anniversary in 2017. Stephen Bourne the UK’s foremost chronicler of the black experience in the entertainment industry, whose now classic book Black in The British Frame celebrates its 25th anniversary, received the third ever Screen Nation Special Award.
Celebrating the evening’s achievements also saw a performance from singer Michelle John from The Voice UK.
Complete Winners List coming up soon
