Two almost simultaneous gatherings of talented production designers, set decorators and other art department team members happened in London and LA over the weekend as the The British Film Designers Guild Awards and the Art Directors Guild Awards announced their winners in two grand ceremonies on different sides of the pond.

The British Film Designers Guild Awards 2019 were announced in a ceremony hosted by Mark Kermode at the Sheraton Grand Hotel, London UK on Saturday 1 February 2020. They’re called the ‘2019’ Awards because they recognise film and TV Production Design from the year their members films were released, even though the ceremony took place in 2020. Somewhat confusingly, the Art Directors Guild Awards 2020 (the 24th Annual Awards ceremony) which took place at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown, USA on the same night, reference the year of the ceremony itself.  The issue of ‘awards year’ titling has presented a conundrum for award ceremonies the world over!

In any case, the skilled and highly creative individuals who were nominated and took home trophies this weekend for their work in film and TV, allow us – the viewers – to travel on immersive journeys through time and space.

 

The BFDG Awards 2019 winners!

Mary Queen of Scots, The Kid Who Would Be King, Rocketman and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum were amongst the feature films to pick up British Film Designers Guild Awards. Gentleman Jack, Chernobyl and Fleabag Series 2 all won in TV categories. Set Decorator Peter Young picked up the special award for Lifetime Achievement.

We have previously published in-depth investigations into two of these films: You can take an exclusive tour of the film sets of Rocketman with Production Design Marcus Rowland and Set Decorator Jude Farr, and read our interview with Production Designer James Merifield about his vision and design process for the film sets of Mary Queen of Scots.

Here’s the full list of winners:-

Best Production Design – International Studio Feature Film – Fantasy
Aladdin
Production Design: Gemma Jackson, Supervising Art Director: Peter Russell, Set Decorator: Tina Jones

Best Production Design – International Studio Feature Film – Contemporary
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
Production Design: Kevin Kavanaugh, Supervising Art Director: Ian Baillie (Morocco), Supervising Art Director: Chris Shriver, Set Decorator: David Schesinger / Letizia Santucci (Morocco)

Best Production Design – International Studio Feature Film – Period
Rocketman
Production Design: Marcus Rowland, Supervising Art Director: Tim Blake, Set Decorator: Jude Farr

Best Production Design – Independent Feature Film – Contemporary             
The Kid Who Would Be King
Production Design: Marcus Rowland, Supervising Art Director: Nigel Evans, Set Decorator: Sara Wan

Best Production Design – Independent Feature Film – Period
Mary Queen of Scots
Production Design: James Merifield, Supervising Art Director: James Wakefield, Set Decorator: Gina Cromwell

Best Production Design – International TV Drama Including Mini Series, TV Movie Or Limited Series 
Chernobyl
Production Design: Luke Hull, Supervising Art Director: Karen Wakefield, Set Decorator: Claire Levinson-Gendler

Best Production Design – Independent TV Drama Including Mini Series, TV Movie Or Limited Series
Gentleman Jack
Production Design: Anna Pritchard, Supervising Art Director: Tom Atkins, Set Decorator: Ussal Smithers

Best Production Design – Light Entertainment TV Programme
Fleabag Series 2
Production Design: Jonathan Paul Green, Supervising Art Director: Joanna King, Set Decorator: Lucy Gardetto

Spotlighting New Talent
Anne Clemens, Art Department Assistant

Anne said “Growing up reading a lot of books, creating my own worlds in my imagination and then seeing these stories being turned into epic films, I have always dreamed of working in this industry. This whole world is nothing but positively exciting, thrillingly adventurous and wonderfully challenging to me!”

The Lifetime Achievement Award 
Peter Young 

The Academy Award winning and BAFTA nominated Peter Young has had a long and illustrious career having worked on 70 films and TV Programmes. Although he worked mainly, for some 50 years, as a Set Decorator, Peter has also worked as a Costume Designer and Production Designer.

Following his first job in 1965 Peter’s career went from strength to strength working on such notable productions as: Performance, with Mick Jagger (1968), Superman II (1978) Superman III (1978), Supergirl (1980), Judge Dread (1994), Michael Collins (1995), Tomorrow Never Dies (1996), The Mummy Returns (2000), and Troy (2002) and working extensively with Director Tim Burton on 5 of his films: Batman (1989), Sleepy Hollow (1999), Planet of the Apes (2001), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) and Alice in Wonderland (2010).

Peter said: “I have met and worked with many remarkable people and am eternally grateful to have had this experience to learn and be taught by so many talented people – Academy Awards aside, a Lifetime Achievement award from one’s peers is truly humbling. Thank you.”

Meanwhile, over the pond…

 

The ADG Awards 2020 winners!

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Avengers: Endgame and Parasite were film winners at the Art Directors Guild’s 24th annual Art Directors Guild Awards. Toy Story 4 picked up the Animated Film prize. TV prizes included The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Cherrnobyl, Russian Doll and The Umbrella Academy.

Check out our edit of the winners:-

Period Feature Film
Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood 
Production Designer: Barbara Ling, Set Decorator: Nancy Haigh

 

Fantasy Feature Film
Avengers: Endgame
Production Designer: Charles Wood

Contemporary Feature Film
Parasite
Production Designer: Lee Ha-Jun

Animated Film
Toy Story 4
Production Designer: Bob Pauley

One-Hour Period or Fantasy Single-Camera Series
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: “Ep. 305, Ep. 308”
Production Designer: Bill Groom, Supervising Art Director: Neil Prince, Art Director: Jan Jericho, Set Decorator: Ellen Christiansen.

One-Hour Contemporary Single-Camera Series
The Umbrella Academy: “We Only See Each Other at Weddings and Funerals”
Production Designer: Mark Worthington

Television Movie or Limited Series
Chernobyl
Production Designer: Luke Hull

Half-Hour Single-Camera Series
Russian Doll: “Nothing in This World Is Easy”
Production Designer: Michael Bricker

 

The BAFTAs also took place at the weekend on Sunday 2 February with 1917 winning for Production Design (as well as Best Film, Best Director, Best Special Visual Effects, Best Cinematography, Best Sound and Outstanding British Film) and the Oscars 2020 – The 92nd Academy Awards – takes place on 10th February.