‘Boyhood’ wins BAFTA for best film; acting honors to Redmayne, Moore

“Boyhood,” director Richard Linklater’s coming-of-age story filmed over a dozen years, was named the best film of 2014 on Sunday at the British Academy Film Awards, known as the BAFTAs.

Linklater won the director honors, and “Boyhood’s” Patricia Arquette received the supporting actress award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts’ annual ceremony at the Royal Opera House in London.

The wins provide some momentum for “Boyhood,” which had been considered the Oscar front-runner for best picture until Alejandro G. Inarritu’s dark comedy “Birdman” picked up top awards from the Screen Actors Guild, Producers Guild of America and, on Saturday, the Directors Guild of America.

“Birdman” won only one BAFTA -- for Emmanuel Lubezki’s cinematography.

The four actors who received BAFTA Awards on Sunday also won the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards for their performances and are Academy Award favorites.

Eddie Redmayne won the BAFTA for lead actor for his portrayal of theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything,” and Julianne Moore won lead actress as a college professor with early onset Alzheimer’s in “Still Alice.” J.K. Simmons was named top supporting actor as a ruthless music teacher in “Whiplash.”

“The Theory of Everything” won outstanding British film and adapted screenplay for Andrew McCarten.

The quirky comedy “The Grand Budapest Hotel” won the most awards, earning BAFTAs for Wes Anderson’s original screenplay, as well as for score, costume design, production design and hair and make-up.

“Whiplash” won in the editing and sound categories. Poland’s “Ida” received the BAFTA for foreign-language film.

“The Lego Movie” won for outstanding animated film, and Laura Poitras’ “Citizenfour” received the BAFTA for documentary.

“Interstellar” earned the BAFTA for special visual effects.

The BAFTA for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer went to Stephen Beresford (writer) and David Livingstone (producer) for “Pride.”

Jack O’Connell, who starred in “Unbroken,” was named rising star in an award voted by the public.

“Boogaloo and Graham” won British short film, and “The Big Picture” took home the prize for British animated short.

BBC Films received the special award for outstanding British contribution to cinema, and director Mike Leigh earned the Fellowship prize.

Stephen Fry hosted the ceremony. The program will air at 8 p.m. Sunday in the U.S. on BBC America.

for a complete list of nominees, go to awards.bafta.org.