A movie filmed in Hatfield swept the board at the 21st British Independent Films Awards in London, claiming a record 10 honours.
The Favourite took home 10 BIFA trophies following last night’s ceremony at Old Billingsgate Market.
Yorgos Lanthimos’ acerbic period comedy-drama, which was largely filmed on location at Hatfield House, was named the Best British Independent Film of the year.
The royal love triangle movie’s three talented female leads were all nominated, with two winning individual awards.
Broadchurch star Olivia Colman picked up the Best Actress gong for her portrayal of Queen Anne in the bawdy tale of life in her court, with Hatfield House and its gardens doubling up at the royal residence.
This follows Olivia Colman’s success in the Venice Film Festival, and she is now tipped for an Oscar nomination.
In The Favourite, Hollywood star Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz play distant cousins involved in a power struggle for Queen Anne’s affections.
And the two Oscar winners were up against each other in the BIFA Best Supporting Actress category.
The Queen’s favourite at the start of the movie, Rachel Weisz, won for her role as Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough.
Olivia Colman went on stage to collect the award for Rachel Weisz.
The best actress winner said the cast are now “friends for life” after she and co-stars Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone bonded on the set of the period romp.
She added: “If you love what you do and other people love it, you couldn’t be more proud.
“This is almost too good, too nice.”
It wasn’t just the cast collecting awards on Sunday night though, with the costume drama’s crew also recognised for the production which took over the Hatfield House estate in spring 2017.
Writers Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara picked up the Best Screenplay award for The Favourite, while Yorgos Lanthimos claimed the Best Director gong – and is tipped for an Oscars nomination, too.
The Favourite also won five awards in the previously announced BIFA 2018 Craft Winners.
They were:
• Best Casting: Dixie Chassay, The Favourite.
• Best Cinematography: Robbie Ryan, The Favourite.
• Best Costume Design: Sandy Powell, The Favourite.
• Best Makeup and Hair: Nadia Stacey, The Favourite.
• Best Production Design: Fiona Crombie, The Favourite.
The Favourite has opened at selected cinemas in America and goes on general release in the UK on January 1, 2019.
Fox Searchlight Pictures, Film4 and Waypoint Entertainment partnered on the production of the film, with principal photography taking place at Hertfordshire stately home Hatfield House, with Hampton Court Palace also used, and it is being released worldwide by Fox Searchlight Pictures.
Among the rooms used for filming of The Favourite at Hatfield House are The Long Gallery, Marble Hall and the King James Drawing Room.
As well as Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz, the cast also includes Sherlock’s Mark Gatiss, Joe Alwyn and Nicholas Hoult.
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