We were delighted to attend the The British Film Designers Guild Awards 2018 earlier this month where we reported live across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as the winners were announced.

Champagne reception of the British Film Designers Guild Awards

Some of the UK’s most talented production designers, set decorators and other members of the art department teams gathered at Royal Horseguards Hotel London on Saturday 9th February 2019. The event was full of talented individuals who work behind the scenes to bring the Directors vision to life and in turn allow the viewer to travel on a totally immersive journey through wildly imaginative environments and historical themes. 

The Favourite, Bohemian Rhapsody, Mary Poppins Returns and Killing Eve were among the winners with Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts Production Designer Stuart Craig picking up the special award for Lifetime Achievement.

It was a pleasure for us to meet so many of the productions designers and set decorators we have interviewed for Film and Furniture.

The evening was hosted by film critic and BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Mark Kermode and was supported by Warner Brothers Productions.

Mark Kermode presents the British Film Designers Guild Awards

The winners!

The Spotlighting New Talent Award
Helen Yates

Best Production Design – Light Entertainment TV Programme
The Chase – Production Designer: Jonathan Paul Green

Best Production Design – Independent TV Drama Including Mini Series, TV Movie or Limited Series
Killing Eve – Production Designer: Kristian Milsted, Supervising Art Director: Fabrice Spelta, Set Decorator: Libby Uppington

Best Production Design – International TV Drama Including Mini Series, TV Movie Or Limited Series 
Sense8: S2 Episode 12 Together Until The End – Production Designer: Peter Walpole, Art Director: Tamara Marini, Art Director: Roberto Caruso, Set Decorator: Raffaella Giovannetti

Best Production Design – Independent Feature Film – Period 
The Favourite – Production Designer: Fiona Crombie, Supervising Art Director: Lynne Huitson, Set Decorator: Alice Felton

Production Designer Fiona Crombie (right), Mark Kermode (centre) and Set Decorator Alice Felton at The British Film Designers Guild Awards

Best Production Design – Independent Feature Film – Contemporary 
The Children Act – Production Designer: Peter Francis, Supervising Art Director: Astrid Sieben, Set Decorator: Sara Wan

Best Production Design – International Studio Feature Film – Period 
Bohemian Rhapsody – Production Designer: Aaron Haye, Supervising Art Director: Stuart Kearns/ David Hindle, Set Decorator: Anna Lynch Robinson

Best Production Design – International Studio Feature Film – Contemporary 
Johnny English Strikes Again – Production Designer: Simon Bowles, Supervising Art Director: Ben Collins, Set Decorator: Liz Griffiths

Production Designer Simon Bowles with Film and Furniture Founder and Editor Paula Benson at the British Film Designers Guild Awards

Best Production Design – International Studio Feature Film – Fantasy 
Mary Poppins Returns – Production Designer: John Myhre, Supervising Art Director: Niall Moroney, Set Decorator: Gordon Sim

The Lifetime Achievement Award 
Stuart Craig

Production Designer Stuart Craig at The British Film Designers Guild Awards

The BFDG Awards was set up to recognise and to highlight the skills and creative importance of the work undertaken by the British Production Designers, Set Decorators, and their associated departments and crews. The British Film Designers Guild was established over 70 years ago and has a membership of over 400 who represent every level of the Art Department those straight from education, to heads of department: Supervising Art Director, Set Decorator and Production Designer.