BAFTAs for National Lottery-backed films Aftersun and An Irish Goodbye

Edinburgh-born director Charlotte Wells won Best Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for her critically-acclaimed drama Aftersun. And the short film An Irish Goodbye took home the award for Best British Short at the star-studded ceremony in London.

Aftersun stars Paul Mescal (Ordinary People) as Calum, a single father who takes his daughter Sophie (Frankie Corio) to a Turkish resort. Recalling the holiday as an adult, Sophie realises her father was struggling with anxiety and depression as he did his best to give her a memorable vacation.

In her acceptance speech Charlotte said, “the film is a eulogy of sorts to my dad, but by definition he’s not here. But my mum is and she always has been. So this is for you – literally, because I over packed.”

Charlotte said^‡ the film’s difficult subject matter was a possible factor in its success. She added, “Its popularity might have something to do with the film’s expression of grief, or the messy, inherently impossible-to-grasp subject of mental illness. Or perhaps it’s to do with the film’s release not long after the years of Covid isolation; or perhaps it’s the product of long-term collaborations deeply rooted in trust and mutual artistic ambition. Whatever the reasons it has made for a moving, magical, entirely surreal, sometimes overwhelming, everywhere all at once six months.”

An Irish Goodbye, a black comedy set on a farm in Northern Ireland, was directed and written by Ross White and Tom Berkeley. It tells the story of two estranged brothers who come together after their mother’s death.

7 films backed and supported by The National Lottery received a total of 12 nominations at this year’s BAFTAs.

24th February 2023

‡Extracted from an article by Charlotte Wells on the BFI’s Sight and Sound website.