Jakob Ihre FSF wins the 2020 BSC Award!

The 2020 BSC Awards Night

Last night, Saturday 15th of February, for the second time the BSC held its special Awards Night in Mayfair, London, at the Grosvenor House Hotel. The house was packed with hundreds of guests and it was a very special gathering of friends and colleagues in the British and international motion picture business. The awards to be handed out during the proceedings were the BSC Lifetime Achievement Award as well as the awards for Best Cinematography in a Feature Film and Best Cinematography in a TV Drama, respectively. Also two awards for those frequently unsung -but as we in the business know crucially important- heroes: the camera operators. Two awards here as well, for best achievement in feature and TV Drama work, respectively.

Finally two very special awards, the BSC ARRI John Alcott Memorial Award and the Bert Easey Technical Award. On the topic of ”Who-was-there?” please see our enclosed photos.

Danny Boyle and Brian Tufano BSC.

As had been previously announced, the BSC Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to the highly deserving Brian Tufano BSC. Befittingly, Tufano was handed the award by director Danny Boyle for whom Tufano has put in sterling work over the years, in fact beginning with Boyle’s  feature debut, Shallow Grave, and continuing the creative collaboration through such films as Trainspotting and A Life Less Ordinary.

The boys who all worked on ”1917” accepting award for Roger Deakins. From left to right: Trinity rig camera operator Charlie Rizek, Gaffer John ”Biggles” Higgins and Steadicam operator Peter Cavaciuti.

Over to the award for Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Film. In a stiff competition between nominees Roger Deakins CBE ASC BSC for 1917, Rodrigo Prieto ASC AMC for The Irishman, Lawrence Sher ASC for Joker, Jarin Blaschke for The Lighthouse, Robert Richardson ASC for Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood… the award goes to Roger Deakins CBE ASC BSC for 1917. One can’t help wondering what Mr Deakins’ mantlepiece looks like by now.

Jakob Ihre FSF gives his acceptance speech after winning the trophy for Best Cinematography in a TV Drama for his work on ”Chernobyl”.

Next on the program was the award for Best Cinematography in a TV Drama. The nominees here were Jakob Ihre FSF for Chernobyl, Gavin Finney BSC for Good Omens – Hard Times, Suzie Lavelle BSC ISC for His Dark Materials – The Spies, Colin Watkinson ASC BSC for The Handmaid’s Tale – Night and Gavin Struthers ASC BSC for The Witcher – The End’s Beginning.   The award goes to a noticeably moved and elated Jakob Ihre FSF for Chernobyl. Mr Ihre received an Emmy in september last year, also for his work on the HBO TV series.

Nigel Walters BSC and Nic Knowland BSC.

There were three honors to be presented to recipients who were not part of a field of nominees. The 2020 Bert Easey Technical Award was given to a venerable centenarian…  ARRI received the award for developing the SKYPANEL FAMILY of lighting fixtures. The Special Achievement Award was presented to the National Film & Television School – Cinematography Department, and finally Nic Knowland BSC was the delighted recipient of the BSC ARRI John Alcott Memorial Award.

First out in the camera operators’ category is the award for best achievement in Feature Film work. The starting field here consists of Geoffrey Haley for Joker, David Luckenbach for Le Mans ’66, Peter Cavaciuti Associate BSC  for  Mary Queen of Scots,  Vince McGahon Associate BSC for Stan and Ollie and Jason Ewart  for Fast and Furious (Hobbs and Shaw) respectively. In a very even field of skillful accomplishments, the award was handed to Geoffrey Haley for Joker.

The nominees for best achievement as camera operator on a TV Drama were a no less stellar circle. They were John Beacham for Carnival Row, Tony Kay for Beecham House, Sean Savage Associate BSC for Game of Thrones,  Joe Russell for Killing Eve 2 and Michael Cartensen for Black Mirror (Rachel Jack and Ashley Too).  The award was presented to Joe Russell for his work on Killing Eve 2.

Hideyuki Kasai from Fujifilm was there.

Messieurs Nigel Walters BSC and Danny Boyle. Mr Walters assures us Mr Boyle is a talented young man whom we are sure to hear more from in the future.

Colourist Gwyn Evans adjusts a camera… moments before stepping into his DeLorean parked just outside and heading straight for November 5, 1955!

And thus ended the 2020 BSC Awards Night ceremonies and the nominees and happy winners joined the attending audience for a continued evening of conversation, laughter and mingling.

Text: Lars Pettersson FSF
Photos: Ingrid Domeij GBCT