Having piled prizes on films about tormented toffs for decades, Bafta has woken up to Britain’s diversity of talent. Suddenly the establishment event is at odds with No 10 – but is there also an internal struggle?
If you want to feel old, think back to the last time a serving prime minister publicly explained what they saw as the point of British film. It was 17 November 2010 and David Cameron was answering questions in the Commons after his recent election win. At one point, he offered what he called a “tip” for British film-makers. They should, he said, take their cue from the Harry Potter franchise. British cinema must “encourage people to come and visit our country”. Tip given, he moved on, welcoming the Saga insurance group to their new head office in East Sussex.
Related: Rocks on! The Baftas’ diversity push has been brilliantly vindicated | Peter Bradshaw
