Screen Nation Film & TV Awards
6th Screen Nation Film & Television Awards Saturday 7th February 2009 BAFTA London, Piccadilly, W1 Screen Nation confirms Awards date
The most talked about award show is finally here. The eagerly anticipated Screen Nation Film & TV Awards dubbed by The Independent as the ‘the black Bafta’s’ reveals its all-important showbiz date. The re-scheduled 2008 Awards will be held at the prestigious setting of BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly on Saturday 7th February 2009 in a unique partnership with the Academy venue.
Screen Nation Awards remains the UK’s only international ceremony to recognize the achievements of black film & TV. This year’s show will see Screen Nation joining in partnership with the UK Film Council, Film London and the BBC to once more reward a unique mix of cinematic and small screen talent. TV favourite Josie D’Arby will host this elite ceremony alongside award winning comedian Eddie Kadi to reveal this year’s winners in 12 exceptional categories. Joined by the industries finest from both British and international shores, Screen Nation will reward the outstanding frontrunners in their creative fields.
Major honours go to comic legend Whoopi Goldberg, veteran star Don Warrington (Strictly Come Dancing, Rising Damp), Desmond’s creator Trix Worrell, South Africa’s first entry to the 2009 Oscars, Jerusalema, Noel Clarke and the cast of Adulthood and Sharon Martin, top Hair and Makeup Designer for Oscar winners Blood Diamond and Last King of Scotland.
This year’s nominees will face fierce competition with Sophie Okonedo (Oliver Twist), Naomie Harris (Poppy Shakespeare), Cat Simmons (The Bill) and Naomi Bentley (Silent Witness) battling for the Female TV Performance award, while Idris Elba (American Gangster), Ashley Walters (Sugar House), Chiwetel Ejiofor (American Gangster) and Noel Clarke (Adulthood) have all been nominated for Male Performance in Film. Alesha Dixon (Strictly Come Dancing), Miquita Oliver (T4), Alison Hammond (This Morning) and Tiana Benjamin (Eastenders) will battle it out in the Favorite Female TV Star category. Estelle, Leona Lewis, Sway, Bashy, Wiley and Ironik all received nominations for Favourite Music Performance.
Charles Thompson, CEO of Screen Nation says: “I am very proud to finally be able to showcase in our sixth year, the extraordinary pool of outstanding talent that we have here in the UK. It is very important that we recognize their work as being seen globally with their achievements setting them as exemplary British role models for the film & TV community. Screen Nation celebrates the achievements of all the winners and nominees and joins with our partners and the industry in wishing them all the best of luck.”
The evening will commence with an exquisite menu of gourmet Caribbean food and drinks by celebrity chef, Collin Brown all leading to the exclusive award ceremony.
Invited guests to this year’s showbiz event include: UK music star Jamelia, Fifi Geldof, Rio Ferdinand, Jermaine Defoe, Celebrity Scissorhands winner Sabrina Washington, Dwaine Chambers, Darren Campbell, Joseph Marcel, Oris Erhuero, Belinda Owusu, Mona Hammond, Danielle Lloyd, Reggie Yates, Zaraah Abrahams and Jaime Winstone.
Anticipated guests include Olympic medalists Christine Uhuorugu and Phillips Idowu, Pixie Geldof, Ashley Cole, Ken Livingston, Sugababe Keisha Buchanan and many more.
Live performances from UK’s No1 rapper Sway, Mobo winners Fola and saxophonist Yolanda Brown are all topped with a high profile UN charity fashion show Catwalk the World featuring top international models.
Screen Nation Awards forms part of The New Black an action packed cultural mixed programme of festivals and events celebrating black film talent supported by Film London, UK Film Council and Skillset. In recognition of this UK independent cinema is celebrated with the return of the Independent Spirit Film Production Award with the nominees having an eye on Hollywood.
Voting for the People’s Choice awards is now closed and nominee selection has been completed in all other categories with all winners announced at the Awards ceremony.
Limited tickets for this exclusive event can be purchased online at Screen Nation website www.screennation.co.uk.