Honours for film of Bradford writer

A FILM about the life of one of Bradford's most celebrated and unflinching playwrights was among the big winners at last night's BFI London Film Festival Awards.

First-time director Clio Bernard, seen above with film star Andy Serkis who presented her with the Best British newcomer award, tells the story and legacy of late playwright Andrea Dunbar in her film The Arbor. Bernard also won the Sutherland Award for best debut director.

Dunbar wrote three plays before she died at the age of 29 and Bernard visited the deprived Buttershaw estate in Bradford where the writer grew up before making her film.

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Award juror Tony Grisoni said: “Clio Barnard’s genre-busting film The Arbor is innovative, eloquent and emotionally resonant. This film, which touched all of us, both challenges conventional filmmaking and at the same time engages with real lives. A stunning debut.”

Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle, lauded for his work on Slumdog Millionaire, was also honoured at the awards ceremony with a British Film Institute (BFI) Fellowship.

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