THE UK REGIONAL CRITICS’ FILM AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED
GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S “PAN’S LABYRINTH” NAMED FILM OF THE YEAR
6th February 2007 – Cinema Days announced today the results of the inaugural vote for The UK Regional Critics Film Awards.
Guillermo Del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth” has been awarded the prestigious accolade of Film of the Year. This enchanting and yet dark fairytale was recognised for overall excellence and achievement in filmmaking. It is a double honour for Del Toro with a second award of Filmmaker of the Year going to him in his directorial role for Pan’s Labyrinth, for which he also holds producer and writer credits.
In response to this double celebration for Pan’s Labyrinth Del Toro said:
“I’m delighted that Pan’s Labyrinth has won Film of the Year and Filmmaker of the Year at this year’s inaugural UK Regional Critics Film Awards. It’s such an honour that a foreign language film has been recognised in such a prestigious way by the UK regional film critics”
Performance of the Year goes to both an Actor and Actress of any nationality who have made the greatest impression in front of the camera. The regional media have awarded these to Forest Whitaker and Dame Helen Mirren for their outstanding roles in Kevin MacDonald’s “The Last King of Scotland and Stephen Frears’s “The Queen” respectively.
Expressing his delight Whitaker said:
“Thank you to all the UK Regional Film Critics for this award. I am so very proud of my role in The Last King of Scotland, and the fact that my performance has been recognized by film critics all around the UK means a great deal to me”
On hearing of her award Mirren said:
“I would like to thank the UK Regional Critics, it is a great honour to win. When the idea of making THE QUEEN was first mooted we had no idea that the result would have quite the impact it has had. It is astounding the way that audiences have responded by taking the film to their hearts.
It is one of the hardest roles to play not just a living person but one who is part of our everyday lives in Britain. Whilst her presence is with us from her image on the letters that come through our door and on the money we spend, we know so little of the woman behind the image. I hope that my performance has conveyed a sense of Elizabeth the woman as well as the Queen.
I am indebted to Peter Morgan for his tremendous screenplay and to director Stephen Frears who was a joy to work with and was sensitive to the nuance of the role.”
Rising star Abigail Breslin wins the award for Newcomer of the Year for her charming portrayal as Olive in “Little Miss Sunshine”, directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris.
“I feel like I now have friends in England, and I so appreciate this wonderful honor” said Breslin.
Regional journalists, including critics, writers and editors, staff or freelance from all over the UK were quick to participate and have been voting since January 12th with their choices being registered from as far and wide as the Isle of Iona, Scotland right down to Newquay in the South West.
Peter Scott, Co-ordinator of Cinema Days, stated, “We are thrilled with the great response to the vote from the regional press and offer our congratulations to all of the winners. We look forward to The UK Regional Critics Film Awards becoming an annual event .”
All of the winners will be presented with an engraved glass diamond award in recognition of their achievements by Cinema Days.