Director Chloé Zhao was awarded the prize via a video connection
The film Nomadland has become the big winner at the BAFTAs, the most important British film awards. The drama won four awards, including Best Picture and Best Direction. Leading actress Frances McDormand was named best actress.
Nomadland was the favorite with seven nominations. The film is about a woman who has become a widow and lost her job. She decides to travel through the United States in a van as a kind of nomad. On the way she meets other nomads.
Nomadland is directed by 38-year-old Chloé Zhao. She has long been seen as one of the great film promises. Her film previously won a Golden Lion and a Golden Globe for best film and best drama. The film has also been nominated in six categories of the Oscars. These will be awarded on April 25.
Dutch touch
Other films that won more than one BAFTA last night are The Father, Soul and Promising Young Woman. The three all won two prizes.
The Bosnian Movie Quo Vadis, Aida?, in which several Dutch actors play, grabbed the prizes despite two nominations. Druk, a Danish tragicomedy in which the Dutch production company Topkapi Films collaborated, did go home with an award. The film won in the Best Foreign Language Film category.
