The British Academy of Film and Television Arts/Los Angeles 2009

Amy Adams, Benicio del Toro, Minnie Driver, Ewan McGregor and Dev Patel were among the presenters at the 18th Annual BAFTA/LA Britannia Awards on Thursday, November 5, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles CA. 

Kirk Douglas was honored with the Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Filmed Entertainment; Robert De Niro received the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film; Colin Firth received BAFTA/LA Humanitarian Award; Emily Blunt with the Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year, and Danny Boyle with the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Artistic Excellence in Directing. 

Golden Globe and BAFTA nominated actor and writer Stephen Fry  served as Master of Ceremonies.

KIRK DOUGLAS
A lifetime of achievement – which includes 87 films, 10 plays, 9 books, and a host of other contributions to his art, his country, and his fellowmen – speaks for itself.  Born December 9, 1916 in Amsterdam, New York, Kirk Douglas made his Broadway debut as a singing Western Union boy in Spring Again, but interrupted his budding stage career in 1942 to enlist in the U.S. Navy, where he served as a communications officer in anti-submarine warfare.

COLIN FIRTH
In addition to being an internationally recognized actor, Colin Firth is an Ambassador for Oxfam International, an organization dedicated to fighting poverty and related injustice around the world.  He is also a supporter of Survival International and the co founder of Café Progreso, a fair trade coffee chain. Firth is also involved with Eco Age, a retail store and environmental consultancy promoting green living.   In 2008 he was named “Philanthropist of the Year” by The Hollywood Reporter and in 2006 he was voted “European Campaigner of the Year” by the EU.

DANNY BOYLE
Danny Boyle is an award winning director whose most recent project; “Slumdog Millionaire” received eight Academy Awards including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director and Best Picture at the 2009 Oscars.  Boyle has been receiving honors from his debut film, “Shallow Grave,” which won the Alexander Korda Award for Outstanding British Film at the BAFTAs, as well as Best Director at the San Sebastian Film Festival, The Empire Award for Best Director and Best British Film and the London Critics’ Circle Film Award for Best British Newcomer.

ROBERT DE NIRO
“Robert De Niro is truly a film icon, and his formidable ability to disappear into each and every character he plays makes him one of the most acclaimed actors in the world,” says BAFTA/LA Chairman Peter Morris.  “His impressive body of work exemplifies his extraordinary craftsmanship and determination as an actor, director and producer, and I am excited that BAFTA/LA has selected Mr. De Niro to receive this outstanding honor.”

EMILY BLUNT
In just a few short years, Emily Blunt has gone from breakout success in My Summer of Love to blockbuster hits like The Devil Wears Prada and the upcoming The Young Victoria and The Wolfman,” says BAFTA/LA Chairman Peter Morris. “Emily continuously demonstrates an impressive range in her performances and with each movie solidifies her status as one of the best actresses of her generation.”