‘Pan’s Labyrith’ wins Bafta for best foreign film

12 February 2007

LONDON — ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’, the Spanish-Mexican film by Guillermo del Toro, won best foreign film at the British Bafta awards.

Del Toro’s gothic fantasy set in 1944 Spain and starring Sergi Lopez and Maribel Verdu, had received eight nominations altogether at the 2007 Orange British Academy Film Awards held at London’s Royal Opera House.

It also won awards for best costume design and best makeup and hairstyling.

“I’ve learned that you must go to the party without expecting anything and in that way you’ll enjoy yourself more,” said Del Toro, who added that his film represents “the universality of myth”.

The film, set in northern Spain in 1944, when the forces of dictator Francisco Franco were fighting Republican rebels in the hills, mixes the fantasies of a young girl with the horrors of post-Civil War Spain to weave a rich tale of repression.

‘Volver’, by Pedro Almodovar, which fell from the top list of favorites after receiving honours from the London critics, was unable to land Penelope Cruz another best actress prize.

This award went instead to Helen Mirren for her role in Stephen Frears’ ‘The Queen’ about Britain’s Queen Elizabeth in the wake of Princess Diana’s death.

‘The Queen’ also won the prize for best film.

Cruz was up for her first BAFTA, and said “I’m very honoured to be in this incredible group of women” vying for the best actress award.

Cruz, Mirren and Judi Dench, up for “Notes on a Scandal” will compete again the Academy Awards ceremony later this month.

Forest Whitaker won the best actor BAFTA for his role as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in ‘The Last King of Scotland’.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news

12 February 2007

LONDON — ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’, the Spanish-Mexican film by Guillermo del Toro, won best foreign film at the British Bafta awards.

Del Toro’s gothic fantasy set in 1944 Spain and starring Sergi Lopez and Maribel Verdu,

had received eight nominations altogether at the 2007 Orange British Academy Film

Awards held at London’s Royal Opera House, and it also captured the awards for best

costume design and best makeup and hairstyling.

“I’ve learned that you must go to the party without expecting anything and in that way

you’ll enjoy yourself more,” said Del Toro, who added that his film represents “the

universality of myth”.

The film, set in northern Spain in 1944, when the forces of dictator Francisco Franco

were fighting Republican rebels in the hills, mixes the fantasies of a young girl with

the horrors of post-Civil War Spain to weave a rich tale of repression.

‘Volver’, by Pedro Almodovar, which fell from the top list of favorites after receiving

honours from the London critics, was unable to land Penelope Cruz another best actress

prize.

This award went instead to Helen Mirren for her role in Stephen Frears’ ‘The Queen’

about Britain’s Queen Elizabeth in the wake of Princess Diana’s death.

‘The Queen’ also won the prize for best film.

Cruz was up for her first BAFTA, and said “I’m very honoured to be in this incredible

group of women” vying for the best actress award.

Cruz, Mirren and Judi Dench, up for “Notes on a Scandal” will compete again the Academy

Awards ceremony later this month.

Forest Whitaker won the best actor BAFTA for his role as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in

‘The Last King of Scotland’.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news