Baftas: Edinburgh pair win short film award

Published on 11/02/2013 12:24

TWO city animators have scooped a Bafta for a short film they made as a graduation project.

Film-makers Will Anderson and Ainslie Henderson rubbed shoulders with Hollywood greats Daniel Day-Lewis and Quentin Tarantino before taking the short animation gong at the awards ceremony in London’s Royal Opera House last night.

Their film The Making of Londbird is a fake documentary mixing live action and animation which tells the story of a has-been Russian cartoon bird trying to make a comeback.

Accepting the award, the kilt-wearing Edinburgh College of Art graduates praised their alma mater – and had a special message for Ainslie’s mum.

Director Will Anderson, 23, from Ross-shire who now lives in Tollcross, said: “Thank you, I’m very honoured.I’d like tos ay a big thank you to the Edinburgh College of Art, where this film was made as a graduation film.”

Co-animator Ainslie Henderson, 33, added: “I just want to say thanks to you, Will, for this mad journey we’re on and I want to say happy birthday to my mum.”

The duo’s striking 15-minute film picked up a Scottish Bafta for animation in November last year and has now done the double with its success at the British awards.

Mr Henderson, who only began the model-making that led him into animation four years ago, previously won a Scottish Bafta New Talent Award for his film It’s About Spending Time Together.

Mr Anderson has been making films on his father’s Super Eight camera since primary school.

The animated feature film Brave and James Bond epic Skyfall were other winners with Scottish connections to be honoured at the star-studded bash Disney-Pixar’s Brave, the fantasy set in the Scottish Highlands, was named Best Animated Film while Skyfall, partly filmed in Glencoe, was named Outstanding British Film of the year.

Skyfall also received the award for best original music. The 007 movie, the third starring Daniel Craig as the suave spy, is already the highest-grossing film of all time at the UK box office. “We all had high expectations for this film and this is really the icing on the cake,” director Sam Mendes said.

Mr Mendes also said he would love to make another Bond film.

Elsehwere “Argo” – based on true story of a group of US diplomats spirited out of Tehran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution – was named Best Picture. Director Ben Affleck also took the best director accolade.

Daniel Day-Lewis scooped leading actor for his performance in the title role of Steven Spielberg’s political biopic Lincoln, while leading actress was won by Amour star Emmanuelle Riva.

Les Miserables star Anne Hathaway was named Best Supporting Actress.

Some of the biggest names in Hollywood braved the wind, rain and sleet to meet fans on the red carpet for the 66th Awards.

Stars including Dame Helen Mirren – sporting distinctive pink hair – Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, George Clooney and Eddie Redmayne graced the red carpet outside the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.