(MENAFN- Arab Times) LOS ANGELES Oct 31 (Agencies): There was a bit of a British invasion of Beverly Hills as BAFTA Los Angeles hosted its annual Britannia Awards honoring film and television talent from both sides of the pond including director Mike Leigh and actors Dame Judi Dench Emma Watson Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Robert Downey Jr.
But the majority of attendees Thursday night was Brits no surprise given the party was thrown by the L.A. branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Downey received the Stanley Kubrick Award for Excellence in Film named after the legendary director of such films as '2001: A Space Odyssey' '(The award) means a heck of a lot to me' said Downey. 'I love British filmmakers and they have such a great talent pool.' Oscar-winning actress Dench was honored with Albert R. ('Cubby') Broccoli Award for Worldwide Contribution in Entertainment named after one of the original producers of the James Bond films. Noted Dench 'Well I'm rather overwhelmed by (the award) because I didn't ever expect to have a film career at all. I never knew Cubby Broccoli although I know of course (Albert's daughter) Barbara Broccoli and (Barbara's half-brother and Bond-series producer) Michael Wilson very well. And I've had 17 years of doing Bond which has been just wonderful. So I'm very very proud that I shall have something that is named after Cubby.' Dench and fellow honoree Watson posed together for photographers on the arrivals line. Watson named Britannia British Artist of the Year said Dench is 'just all soul and all grace and strength and beauty and she really for me she's an iconic British actor. She's what you aspire to be.' The 79-year-old Dench is currently on a box-office roll with her 2012 releases 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' and 'Skyfall' and her Oscar-nominated 2013 'Philomena' all boasting worldwide grosses of more than $100 million each. Dench's next film is the sequel. 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' hitting cinemas in February. Dench said 'People like to say 'When are you retiring' Or 'When are you going to slow down' That's all very rude in my family. We don't say any of that. I think if I stop it'll be like a car: I shall run out of petrol and fall over. So I plan not to do that if possible.' The BAFTA Los Angeles Jaguar Britannia Awards are set to air on BBC America Nov 2. When Albert Finney scored a supporting actor nomination for 'Erin Brockovich' in 2000 the conventional wisdom was that the Oscar was his to lose. Yet Benicio del Toro walked off with the prize for 'Traffic.' Many in Hollywood chalked it down to Finney not being around to campaign but there were many more who are aware of that British preference not to push themselves forward. Plus says Perry Simon g.m. of BBC America 'Many of these actors live in the U.K. and don't have proximity' to L.A.-based campaign stops. With year-round events BAFTA/LA tries to bridge the gap between London and Los Angeles. 'BAFTA's position is to help level the playing field make sure Brit players are available' BAFTA/LA topper Nigel Daly says. 'We hesitate to promote. BAFTA's commitment is to screen every contender Brit or non-Brit with a whole series of screenings. We have Q&As and give everyone an opportunity to see an array of films.' Photos: 2014 Britannia Awards Honorees If BAFTA/LA is shy in promoting Brits BBC America has no such compunction. 'We do think of BBC America as a leading platform for British talent. Our programs showcase the best of Brit talent' Simon says. 'We furthered that goal with the BAFTA/LA partnership.' One of its biggest functions is the Britannia Awards which took place Oct 30. 'It's a unique warm British evening; it's very relaxed' Daly says. 'Everyone knows who is being honored competition has been removed. We are awarding excellence with a very British accent.' BBC America will air the Britannias for a third year on Nov 2 hosted by Rob Brydon. Airing the Britannias raises BBC America's profile too. 'We've gotten a little more ambitious in terms of what we and BAFTA seek to accomplish' Simon says pointing to the 10 million hits the network got for its YouTube segment of Sacha Baron Cohen knocking an 'elderly' woman off stage last year. 'We work very closely with the talent and we do see our role in part to promote the programming but also the talent that brings that programming to life' he says. 'Some actors are more interested in these things than others we are respectful of their desires.' Liverpool-born producer Lynette Howell has been working in L.A. for 14 years and says she has 'adopted the American way of making movies.'That means sometimes being aggressive to get the talent she wants especially working on indies such as 'The Place Beyond the Pines' and 'Half Nelson.' But she also sees herself as a partner with the distributor in tubthumping her pics. 'I think it's important as a producer to promote your movies make yourself available at Q&As as a producer or anyone associated with the movie to the time devoted to your project to make the movie accessible to as many people as possible' she says. The producer working on Tim Burton's upcoming pic 'Big Eyes' which Daly points out is among a platoon of buzzworthy Brit pics. For Howell BAFTA/LA is a great place to meet other Brits and see up-and-coming talent. 'It's great to have a community. Even though I'm transplanted from home I still feel connection to the UK and it's nice to have an organization to have you tie back to it.' That is what Daly is trying to accomplish. 'Throughout the year we support talent contribute to their success. And in BAFTA itself we've got the Britannia Awards celebrating the relationship between the industries.' 'Every single person selected are jewels absolute jewels' Daly says.
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