The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles (BAFTA Los Angeles) is pleased to announce that award-winning actor and producer Matt Damon will receive the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film presented by Newegg at the 2017 AMD British Academy Britannia Awards. He joins previously announced honorees Dick Van Dyke, who will receive the Britannia Award for Excellence in Television, Ava DuVernay, who will receive the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing presented by The GREAT Britain Campaign, Claire Foy, who will receive the Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year presented by Burberry, and Kenneth Branagh, who will receive the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment. British comedian Jack Whitehall returns as host.
This year's event will take place on Friday, October 27, 2017 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The event's title sponsor is AMD, and the ceremony presented by American Airlines and Jaguar Land Rover.
"Matt Damon is undoubtedly one of the most talented and respected actors working in film today. Having made a remarkable impact at a young age with Good Will Hunting, he has developed a phenomenal career - combining both big-budget studio movies and acclaimed independent films," said BAFTA Los Angeles Chairman Kieran Breen. "As a favorite of some of the top contemporary directors in our industry, it seems particularly fitting that we are honoring his career with an award bearing the name of the legendary Stanley Kubrick."
The Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film presented by Newegg is presented to a unique individual, upon whose work is stamped the indelible mark of authorship and commitment, and who has lifted the craft to new heights. Prior recipients of the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film include Jodie Foster, Meryl Streep, Robert Downey Jr., George Clooney, Warren Beatty, Jeff Bridges, Tom Cruise, Daniel Day Lewis, Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, George Lucas, Sean Penn, Steven Spielberg and Denzel Washington.
The AMD British Academy Britannia Awards is BAFTA's biggest event outside of the UK, where Brits and anglophiles alike come together in Los Angeles in celebration of exceptional members of the creative community who have dedicated their careers to advancing the art forms of the moving image in the US, UK and beyond. The AMD Britannia Awards are BAFTA Los Angeles' highest accolades, recognizing both outstanding British talent, and exceptional international talent by virtue of their strong connection to British entertainment through their body of work. Known to be an enjoyable evening that captures a unique blend of sincerity and British irreverence, the evening also serves to celebrate the long-standing collaboration between the British and American industries. Proceeds from the event support BAFTA's Access for All campaign, a range of impactful educational initiatives created to provide a foot-in-the-door and a pathway to success for talented individuals, uninhibited by background, demographics or personal circumstance.
The 2016 ceremony took place on Friday, October 28 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and was hosted by British actor and comedian Ben "Doc Brown" Smith. Ang Lee was honored with the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing presented by the GREAT Britain Campaign, Samuel L. Jackson was honored with the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment, Ricky Gervais was honored with the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy, Ewan McGregor was honored with the Britannia Humanitarian Award, Felicity Jones was honored with the British Artist of the Year presented by Burberry, and Jodie Foster was honored with the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film presented by the Arya Group. World-renowned television and event production company Done + Dusted produced the ceremony, with Event Management by MTA Events.
BAFTA's other key events include the highly-anticipated TV Tea on September 16, 2017, the BAFTA Tea Party in January and
THE EE BRITISH ACADEMY FILM AWARDS in London on February 18, 2018.
Considered one of the most revered actors in Hollywood today, in terms of talent and box office draw, Matt Damon's varied and rich career has seen him in front of the camera as well as behind.
Matt stars in two films this year. The first is Suburbicon for director George Clooney. The film, written by Joel and Ethan Coen, is the story of a 1950's suburban family who undergo a home invasion that forces them to turn to blackmail, revenge, and betrayal. He also stars in Downsizing alongside Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis, Christoph Waltz for director Alexander Payne. The film is a social satire in which a guy realizes he would have a better life if he were to shrink himself.
Though far from an overnight success, Matt catapulted into the public eye in 1997 with his first Academy Award nomination and win for co-writing Good Will Hunting with his lifelong friend Ben Affleck. The script also earned the pair a Golden Globe? nomination as well as several critics' group nominations, and feted Matt with Academy Award?, Golden Globe? and Screen Actors Guild? (SAG) nominations for Best Actor.
More recognition followed as Matt earned his third Golden Globe? nomination for his performance in 1999's The Talented Mr. Ripley, under the direction of Anthony Minghella, and in 2009 was nominated for Academy Award?, Screen Actors Guild? and Critics' Choice Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor, for his portrayal of South African rugby hero Francois Pienaar in Clint Eastwood's true-life drama Invictus. Additionally, in the same year, he garnered a Golden Globe? nomination for Best Actor for his starring role in Steven Soderbergh's The Informant. The connection with Soderbergh proved to be a successful one as he and Matt collaborated again for seven films over his career, including the heist blockbuster films, Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve and Ocean's Thirteen, and in 2013 for the
HBO Telefilm, "Behind the Candelabra," where Matt played opposite Michael Douglass, and earned Emmy Award?, Golden Globe?, Screen Actors Guild? and BAFTA Award? nominations for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries.
In addition, Matt co-founded H20
AFRICA in 2006, now known as Water.org, a foundation that brings clean water to and sanitation to countries around the world that suffer without that simple need.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos
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