Brit Spotting Round-up 2/25

BRIT KUDOFESTS!

Love it or hate it - its award season. So it’s only right we celebrate the increasing number of Brits who’ve been popping up on the American radar. Whether it’s through film, TV, music or in the snow British achievement has been getting a lot of attention in the last few weeks.

BAFTAS

A surprising year at the British Academy of Film and TV Awards mainly centered around whether one film was British enough and why the other wasn’t. The night of unpredictable results saw Gravity snagging ‘Outstanding British Film’ and six other awards out of its 11 nominations. Although the two actors in the movie, Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, are very American the film was conceived and executed in Britain. 
12 Years A Slave, however, did not qualify as a British production, despite its British director Steve McQueen. It did come away with ‘Best Film’ and the ‘Leading Actor’ award for Chiwetel Ejiofor.

See the full list of winners here: 
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/baftas/10642602/Baftas-2014-the-winners-as-they-are-announced.html
Here's a clip of highlights:
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BRITS

The big winners included One Direction who, interestingly, are the first band since the Beatles to have 2 albums out in the same year in the US, and the Artic Monkeys who won two Brits each. 
Although the show was aired on US TV a day later it surprisingly received little press coverage, despite much-anticipated performances by Beyonce, Katy Perry and Bruno Mars (not together, unfortunately.) Maybe it’s because many of the winners are still bubbling under the surface of US recognition - groups like Rudimental (Best Single) and Ellie Goulding (British Female Solo Artist). 

Check whether you recognize any of the Brits winners here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25674995
NAACP IMAGE AWARDS

Created in 1967 to officially recognize quality roles for African-Americans the NAACP Image Awards seem to be casting their criteria net a lot wider these days. Non-African Americans are being frequently honored at the prestigious event. 

Image Awards chairman, Leonard James, noted the change describing the ceremony as a “very multicultural awards show with an African-American point of view.”

This year 12 Years A Slave won ‘Best Motion Picture’ and Brit actor David Oyelowo walked away with the ‘Outstanding Supporting Actor’ award. Even host Anthony Anderson joked about needing a proper accent and an African name to win something in Hollywood these days.
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SOCHI

Apparently, they only had a target of 3 medals but Team GB surpassed that by winning 4 at this year’s winter Olympics in Sochi. It’s being called their best medal haul since 1924 and the new freestyle ski and snowboard disciplines helped deliver Britain's best ever performance on snow.
 
Lizzy Yarnold (Skeleton) and Jenny Jones (Snowboarding) were amongst the star athletes at the games and are currently enjoying something more priceless than shiny medals - the adoration of their country.

TOSCARS


If you live in LA and you’re an Oscar junkie with no hope of ever seeing the show live, you’re in luck. The 7th annual Toscars takes place tomorrow in Hollywood. 

The brainchild of Brits In LA (a group for British people in LA and all who love them) the event is a spoofy homage to this year’s Oscar movie nominations. It’ll feature low-budget parodies and a performance from host Alex Newell from Glee. It promises to be hilarious and a little messy.

Check out the nominations and more about the show below:
https://www.facebook.com/thetoscars

http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2014/02/24/toscars-brits-la-skewer-hollywoods-biggest-night/