Johnny Depp salutes Christopher Lee with career honor
By Jill Lawless
LONDON (AP) --Johnny Depp has made a surprise appearance at the London Film Festival to give a career honor to horror icon Christopher Lee.
Depp called Lee “a national treasure” and “a genuine artist” as he presented the 91-year-old actor with a British Film Institute Fellowship on Saturday.
He said it had been “a childhood dream come true” to work with Lee. The two actors appeared together in Tim Burton’s “Sleepy Hollow,” ”Dark Shadows” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
Lee returned the compliment, calling Depp one of the few younger actors “who is truly a star.”
Lee’s 250 movie roles include Dracula in a series of Hammer Films thrillers, Bond villain Scaramanga in “The Man With The Golden Gun,” the founder of Pakistan in “Jinnah” and Saruman in “The Lord of the Rings.”
During a ceremony at London’s Banqueting House, the festival gave its best-picture prize to Polish director Pawel Pawlikowski for “Ida,” the story of a novice nun in 1960s’ Poland.
Pawlikowski, best known for English-language films “Last Resort” and “My Summer of Love,” said he had been warned that “making a film in Poland, in black and white,” with a little-known actress would be a bad career move.
“But that doesn’t seem to be the case.”
The first-feature prize went to Anthony Chen’s Singapore family drama “Ilo Ilo,” and screenwriter Jonathan Asser was named best British newcomer for prison drama “Starred Up.”
The documentary trophy went to Paul-Julien Robert’s “My Fathers, My Mother and Me,” a personal portrait of Europe’s largest commune.
The 57th London Film Festival included 235 features, including Paul Greengrass’ hijacking drama “Captain Phillips,” Alfonso Cuaron’s space odyssey “Gravity,” Joel and Ethan Coen’s folk saga “Inside Llewyn Davis” and Steve McQueen’s hard-hitting “12 Years A Slave.”
The 12-day festival ends Sunday with “Saving Mr. Banks,” starring Tom Hanks as Walt Disney and Emma Thompson as “Mary Poppins” author P.L. Travers.
“Dune: Part Two” and “House of the Dragon” Win 2 HPA Awards Apiece
Dune: Part Two and House of the Dragon each scored two HPA Awards during a gala ceremony at the Television Academy’s Wolf Theatre in North Hollywood, Calif. on Thursday night (11/7). The HPA Awards honor trailblazing talent in the postproduction industry, celebrating standout achievements in color grading, sound, editing, restoration, and visual effects across theatrical features, commercials, and episodics.
Dune: Part Two topped the Outstanding Color Grading--Live Action Theatrical Feature and the Outstanding Sound--Theatrical Feature categories.
House of the Dragon’s two wins were for “The Red Dragon and the Gold” episode which scored for Outstanding Visual Effects--Live Action Episode or Series Season, and Outstanding Editing--Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature (Over 30 Minutes). In the latter HPA Creative Category, House of the Dragon tied with the “Part Six: Far,l Far Away” episode of Ahsoka.
The HPA’s Judges Award for Creativity and Innovation honored Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour. This recognition celebrates the profound impact on both live and filmed entertainment that defined The Eras Tour, underscoring its exceptional impact on audiences and the industry. The jury issued a statement outlining their choice: “Celebrated as the cultural phenomenon of 2023, Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour set new records in box office sales, tour revenues, and attendance. The tour showcased exceptional artistry and innovation, making a profound impact on both live and filmed entertainment.”
This year, FotoKem was awarded the Charles S. Swartz Award for its role in supporting filmmakers, studios, cinematographers, and artists across diverse film and media landscapes. Also celebrated... Read More