BAFTA Nominee Reactions

ANN DOWD – MASS (Best Supporting Actress)

With all my heart, thank you to BAFTA for this acknowledgment. I received this wonderful news early this morning as I sent my boy off to school. I’m now sitting on the couch, stunned, with a large smile on my face.

I share this nomination with writer-director Fran Kranz, and fellow castmates Reed Birney, Jason Isaacs, and Martha Plimpton. MASS is a movie with a very small budget. We filmed it in a little town in Idaho in two weeks, mostly in one room. We worked as one and making this film was one of the most profound experiences of our lives. MASS is about hope, about healing and the possibility of forgiveness. The wish is that more people will see the film, that more people will come to the table and trust their ability to drop the armor and find peace despite their profound differences.

A deep thank you to our UK distributor Sky and our US distributor Bleecker Street for believing in this film and having the courage to get it out in the world.

Thank you for this beautiful honor.

TANYA SEGHATCHIAN – THE POWER OF THE DOG  (Producer / Nominee for Best Film)
We’re all so grateful to the BAFTA membership for these 8 wonderful nominations. Making this film was all about teamwork in very challenging Covid conditions. Our entire cast led by Benedict and Jesse, were amazing and it’s great to see them recognised along with our rising star Kodi and Jonny Greenwood for his unique and gripping score. But it’s particularly satisfying to see trailblazing women being celebrated – the visionary and inspirational Jane Campion of course, but also Ari Wegner, who is now BAFTA’s first-ever woman nominee for cinematography.

REBECCA HALL- PASSING (Director/Writer/Producer) (Outstanding British Film and Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer)
I’m happy to wake up this morning and find out that “Passing” has been nominated in four BAFTA categories! So excited for Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga especially and can’t wait to celebrate with them in London.

BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH – THE POWER OF THE DOG (Leading Actor)
I’m deeply humbled and grateful to BAFTA for this nomination. The journey to play Phil Burbank took me a long way from anything familiar to me and this recognition of that work feels like completing the circle and coming home. I’m also thrilled and proud as punch for our amazing leader Jane and the film’s nominations and also for the recognition of my brilliant friends Jesse and Kodi.

KODI SMIT-MCPHEE – THE POWER OF THE DOG (Best Supporting Actor)
Thank you so much BAFTA for supporting our film through these nominations. I’m humbled and beyond grateful that my performance has resonated with them to this capacity, and I’m so excited to see that Jesse’s incredible work has been recognized in the same category as well.

PAOLO SORRENTINO – The Hand of God (Best Film Not in English Language) 
I made this film so that my children would know why I am what I am. It is a great honor that this personal film has been honored by BAFTA.  I am so grateful too to my wonderful cast and crew. Grazie!

MIKE RIANDA (DIRECTOR/Co-WRITER), PHIL LORD (PRODUCER), CHRIS MILLER (PRODUCER) (Best Animated Film)
Thank you BAFTA for making our wildest dreams come true. Hundreds of filmmakers poured their hearts and personalities and human hands into this movie and created the very animated Katie Mitchell, our hero, who taught us never to hold back and never to play it safe. We made Mitchells for kids like Katie, who are brave and take risks and love movies that don’t follow a formula. They want to make their mark, and be original, and be seen. Thanks to all the Katie Mitchells who made up this incredible crew for always looking forward to what’s never been done, and never looking back.

EMILE SHERMAN & IAIN CANNING – THE POWER OF THE DOG (Producers / Nominees for Best Film)
We are incredibly grateful for today’s BAFTA nominations, and thrilled that THE POWER OF THE DOG is connecting with audiences as well as our community of filmmakers around the world. Working with Jane Campion is inspirational. Her storytelling feels so vital and in THE POWER OF THE DOG she has created a bold new take on classic cinema.

We are also grateful for the nuanced and engrossing performances by Benedict Cumberbatch, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Jesse Plemons which elevate every scene, as do all our incredible crew including extraordinary cinematographer Ari Wegner. Through this collaboration Jane has created a masterclass in sensory storytelling. The film also highlights the talents of the Australian, UK and New Zealand industries which is at the core of who we are at See-Saw.

Jessie Buckley – The Lost Daughter (Best Supporting Actress)
Making this film surrounded by these incredible women was an absolute gift. I’m so grateful for every second of it and to BAFTA for this recognition of The Lost Daughter.