'1917' dominates Baftas 2020, best actor winner Joaquin Phoenix
London: British filmmaker Sam Mendes' war drama "1917" ruled the 2020 edition of Baftas with seven wins, including best film, best British film and best director but it was best actor winner Joaquin Phoenix calling out the "systemic racism" of the industry that received a lot of attention at the awards ceremony.
Phoenix, who was awarded the Bafta for his titular performance in "Joker", accused the industry of sending out "a clear message to people of colour that you are not welcome here".
Both British Academy of Film and Television and Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences were heavily criticised for the lack of representation and diversity after the nominations were announced.
The acting categories had shut out people of colour while no women directors were recognised in the directing segment.
"I don't think anybody wants a handout or preferential treatment, although that's what we give ourselves every year. I think people just want to be acknowledged, appreciated and respected for their work. This is not a self-righteous condemnation because I'm ashamed to say that I'm part of the problem," Phoenix said on stage at the Royal Albert Hall.
"I have not done everything in my power to ensure that the sets I work on are inclusive, but I think it's more than just having sets that are multicultural. We have to do the hard work to truly understand systemic racism. I think it is the obligation of the people that have created and perpetuate and benefit from a system of oppression to be the ones that dismantle it. So that's on us," he concluded.
Prince William, who presented this year's Bafta Fellowship to "Star Wars" producer Kathleen Kennedy, also addressed the issue. "We find ourselves talking again about the need to do more to address diversity in the sector. That cannot be right in this day and age," he said.
"1917" also took home the Baftas for cinematography, production design, sound and special visual effects.
Actor Rebel Wilson took a potshot at the Academy for not nominating women directors. She said, "I don't think I could do what they do, honestly. I just don't have the b***s," as the room erupted in laughter.
Besides Phoenix's predicted win, Todd Phillips' "Joker" managed two more awards in the best original score and casting categories.
Actor Renee Zellweger took home the best actress honour for her role as legendary singer-actor Judy Garland in "Judy" and had a brief reunion with her "Bridget Jones" co-star Hugh Grant near the stage.
Grant, who was one of the presenters, joked, "First of all, well done Jones.That was a very silly little dress, I thought," the actor, who played the role of Daniel Cleaver in the movie, said.
Brad Pitt and Laura Dern continued their winning streak in the supporting categories as they bagged one more for their performances in Quentin Tarantino's revisionist period piece "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" and divorce drama "Marriage Story", respectively.
In a reference to the UK leaving the European Union, Pitt said -- in a written note read by his "Once Upon a Time..." co-star Margot Robbie -- "Hey Brits, heard you just got single. Welcome to the club!"
"He's gonna name this Harry, because he's really excited about bringing this back to the States with him," Robbie said in another dig at the locals in light of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle stepping down as senior royals as Prince William and wife Kate Middleton chuckled in the audience.
South Korean director Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" scooped two Baftas -- for original screenplay and film not in the English language. The award for best adapted screenplay went to writer-director Taika Waititi for "Jojo Rabbit".
"This is very, very cool for me. (I) come from the colonies. We know it's been a hard week for you guys," the New Zealander filmmaker began his acceptance speech.
Lifting the trophy, Waititi said, "It's been very nice to take a little bit of your gold, back home, where it belongs."
Jay Roach-directed "Bombshell", based on the accounts of several women at Fox News who set out to expose CEO Roger Ailes for sexual harassment, picked up best hair and make-up trophies.
Greta Gerwig's adaptation of "Little Women" secured a win in the best costume category and "Ford v Ferrari", which released in the UK as "Le Mans '66", was adjudged the film with best editing.
Actor-director Andy Serkis was honoured with the outstanding British contribution to film award, which was presented to him by veteran theatre and film actor Ian McKellen.
Micheal Ward, known for "Top Boy" and "Blue Story", was named the Bafta rising star.
"Klaus" took home the best animation award and "Grandad was a Romantic" was named the best British short animation. "Learning to Skateboard in a war zone (If you're a girl)" won the best British short film award.
"Sama", a film about a young mother's experience of the Syrian civil war, won best documentary Bafta.
"Bait" was named outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer.
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MP HC sets up judicial commission to probe water contamination in Indore
Indore (PTI): The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday set up a commission of inquiry comprising a former HC judge to probe the issue of water contamination in city's Bhagirathpura, saying the matter requires probe by an independent, credible authority and "urgent judicial scrutiny".
It also directed the commission to submit an interim report after four weeks from the date of commencement of proceedings.
A division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi constituted the commission while hearing several public interest litigations (PILs) filed simultaneously regarding the deaths of several people in Bhagirathpura due to the consumption of contaminated water.
The HC reserved the order after hearing all the parties during the day, and released it late at night.
The state government on Tuesday told the HC that the deaths of 16 people in Indore's Bhagirathpura area was possibly linked to a month-long outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The government presented an audit report of 23 deaths from the current gastroenteritis epidemic in Bhagirathpura before the bench, suggesting that 16 of these fatalities may have been linked to the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The report, prepared by a committee of five experts from the city's Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, stated that the deaths of four people in Bhagirathpura were unrelated to the outbreak, while no conclusion could be reached regarding the cause of death of three other people in the area.
During the hearing, the high court sought to know from the state government the scientific basis behind its report.
The division bench also expressed surprise at the state government's use of the term "verbal autopsy" in relation to the report, sarcastically stating that it had heard the term for the first time.
The HC expressed concern over the Bhagirathpura case, stating that the situation was "alarming," and noted that cases of people falling ill due to contaminated drinking water have also been reported in Mhow, near Indore.
In its order, the HC said the serious issue concerning contamination of the drinking water supply in Bhagirathpura area allegedly resulted in widespread health hazards to residents, including children and elderly persons.
According to the petitioners and media reports, death toll is about 30 till today, but the report depicts only 16 without any basis or record, it said.
It is averred that sewage mixing, leakage in the pipeline, and failure of civic authorities to maintain potable water standards have led to the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Photographs, medical reports, and complaints submitted to the authorities prima facie indicate a matter requiring urgent judicial scrutiny, the HC said.
"Considering the gravity of the allegation and affecting the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the need for an independent fact-finding exercise, the Court is of the opinion that the matter requires investigation by an independent, credible authority," it said.
"Accordingly, we appoint Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta, former judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, a one-man commission of inquiry into the issues relating to water contamination in Bhagirathpura, Indore, and its impact on other areas of the city," the HC added.
As per the order, the commission shall inquire into and submit a report on the cause of contamination -- whether the drinking water supplied to Bhagirathpura was contaminated; and the source and nature of contamination (sewage ingress, industrial discharge, pipeline damage etc).
The panel will also probe the number of actual deaths of affected residents on account of contaminated water; find out the nature of disease reported and adequacy of medical response and preventive measures; suggest immediate steps required to ensure safe drinking water as well as long-term infrastructural and monitoring reforms.
It will also identify and fix responsibility upon the officers and officials found prima facie responsible for the Bhagirathpura water contamination incident, and suggest guidelines for compensation to affected residents, particularly vulnerable sections.
The commission shall have powers of a civil court for the purpose of summoning officials and witnesses; calling up records from the government department, hospitals, laboratories and civic bodies; ordering water quality testing through accredited laboratories; conducting spot inspections.
All state authorities involving district administration, Indore Municipal Corporation, public health engineering department and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board shall extend full co-operation and provide records as sought by the commission, it said.
The state government shall provide office space, staff, and logistical support to the commission, it said.
During the hearing in the day, the state government also presented a status report to the court in this matter.
According to reports, a total of 454 patients were admitted to local hospitals during the vomiting and diarrhea outbreak, of whom 441 have been discharged after treatment, and 11 are currently hospitalised.
According to officials, due to a leak in the municipal drinking water pipeline in Bhagirathpura, sewage from a toilet was also mixed in the water.
