Award-winning actor, producer, writer, and director Noel Clarke will receive the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award at the 74th EE British Academy Film Awards next month.
Noel Clarke will be presented with his award, one of BAFTA’s highest honours, on Saturday 10 April as part of the EE BAFTA Film Awards Opening Night ceremony in London.
From his very first TV appearance more than two decades ago in the ground-breaking Channel 4 series, Metrosexuality, Noel Clarke has played a pivotal role in bringing diversity to British screens in front and behind the camera and pushing under-represented talent and stories to the forefront of cinema and television.
He wrote and starred in the cult phenomenon feature film Hood trilogy, Kidulthood (2006), Adulthood (2008) and Brotherhood (2016), the latter two he directed. The award-winning films focussed on the lives of troubled teenagers turned adults living in West London.
“Winning the EE Rising Star Award was a catalyst moment in my career. It was an amazing honour…”
One of the original multi-hyphenates in the British TV and film industries, in 2007, Clarke co-founded his own production company, Unstoppable Entertainment in a bid to champion fresh, emerging and diverse voices. Since then, the company has produced more than 10 feature films.
His catalogue of awards includes the BAFTA Rising Star Award, which he won in 2009. Now in its 16th year, it is the only category at the EE BAFTA Film Awards to be voted for by the public.
Days before this year’s Rising Star Award winner is decided Clarke lent his influential weight to the awards by encouraging film fans to vote for this year’s winner by taking part in a short film.
Watch the short film
Speaking about how important winning this award was to his career, in the film Noel Clarke said: “Winning the EE Rising Star Award was a catalyst moment in my career. It was an amazing honour, knowing that the award held such weight – the recognition of the industry, my peers and, of course, ultimately the public who showed up for me. Looking back at that moment on the big screen for the first time in a long time, I had to take a minute. I have so much respect for the 2021 nominees and can say with authority that good things are coming, as long as they continue to work hard.”
He concluded: “To any young aspiring filmmakers or actors out there, my advice would be to work hard and have belief in yourself. Because if you don’t, who will?”.
Clarke’s career continues to go from strength to strength. Under his expanded production banner, Clarke co-created and stars in Sky One’s massively successful original drama Bulletproof with Ashley Walters, one of the highest rated series on Sky since debuting in 2018. The series has recently been confirmed for a fourth series set to start filming later this year.
“I cannot think of a more deserving recipient for this year’s award.”
Marc Samuelson, Chair of BAFTA’s Film Committee said: “Noel is an inspiration to me and to many others, for his central and much-needed role in supporting and championing diverse voices in the British film industry. He is a multi-hyphenate who early on in his career has managed successfully to cross the line from respected actor to filmmaker. He truly is able to do it all – acting, writing, directing and producing. His authentic portrayal of London life in his critically acclaimed Hood trilogy cemented his place in British cinema and he continues to push boundaries with his work today. He is now building a hugely successful production company, giving opportunities to a wide range of talented people from many different under-represented groups. I cannot think of a more deserving recipient for this year’s award.”
Noel Clarke commented: “Thank you BAFTA for this acknowledgment and recognition of my work over the past two decades. I will endeavour to continue to make ground-breaking work and open doors for underrepresented people that may not often get a chance.”
This year, the EE British Academy Film Awards will be celebrated across the weekend of 10 and 11 April and will be broadcast virtually from London’s Royal Albert Hall. The first show, celebrating the craft of film, will be broadcast on Saturday 10 April on BBC Two and BBC Two HD. The show on Sunday 11 April will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC One HD.
Vote for the BAFTA Rising Star Award 2021 nominees until midday on 9 April: Bukky Bakray, Conrad Khan, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Morfydd Clark and Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù at ee.co.uk/BAFTA
