02 December 2016
Newsdesk
Acclaimed producer and former agent Beryl Vertue, CBE was today awarded The EON Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Sherlock actor, Benedict Cumberbatch, at the 26th annual Women in Film & TV Awards.
Actress Sarah Lancashire, television presenter Gabby Logan, BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg, Gogglebox producer Tania Alexander and actress and writer Michaela Coel are just some of the outstanding women from the world of film and television who were also honoured in front of 1,000 of the industry’s top executives today.
Hosted by broadcaster Sandi Toksvig and supported by Sky, the prestigious event saw film and television’s finest gather at London’s Park Lane Hilton Hotel to celebrate the year’s most inspiring women.
Beryl, founder and chairwoman of leading UK production company, Hartswood Films, and executive producer of hit BBC drama Sherlock, was honoured with the award recognising her career which has spanned more than 50 years. Beryl has been a leading figure in television production bringing many of the UK’s best loved shows to our screens including Up Pompeii, Steptoe and Son, Men Behaving Badly and Coupling as well as recent international smash hit, Sherlock.
Benedict Cumberbatch said: ‘It is an absolute honour to be able to present The EON Lifetime Achievement Award to the wonderful Beryl Vertue. We have known each other a long time and not only have I had the pleasure of working with her but I’m very lucky to know her and call such a brilliant woman, my friend.’
Actor and comedian, Julia Davis, was awarded The Creative Skillset Writing Award in recognition of her successful Sky Atlantic series, Camping. Julia, whose critically acclaimed work includes BBC Three comedies Nighty Night and Hunderby accepted the award from actor and writer, Mark Gatiss.
The M·A·C Best Performance Award was presented to BAFTA award winning actress, Sarah Lancashire by her Happy Valley co-star Siobhan Finneran. New talent was also celebrated at the award ceremony with The FremantleMedia UK New Talent Award presented to Michaela Coel, the creator of Channel 4’s highly acclaimed Chewing Gum.
The ITV Studios Achievement of the Year Award went to Beryl Richards, Chair of Directors UK, for her dedicated work in promoting the achievements of directors and championing female directors in particular. BBC Political Editor, Laura Kuenssberg, received The BBC News and Factual Award from former MP and newly celebrated Strictly Come Dancing star, Ed Balls.
Meanwhile, The NEP UK Presenter Award was awarded to television presenter, Gabby Logan by Olympian Tom Daley and The Barclays Business Award was presented by broadcaster Greg Dyke to Chief Executive Officer of the BFI, Amanda Nevill.
Other winners included Carolina Schmidtholstein (The Panalux Craft Award), Sara Bennett (The Technicolor Creative Technology Award), Sarah Gavron (The Deluxe Director Award), Nina Gold (The Argonon Contribution to the Medium Award), Tarn Harper (The Film Finances Project Management Award) and Tania Alexander (The ENVY Producer Award).
WFTV CEO Kate Kinninmont said: “We have seen some fantastic women achieving great things this year and the diverse range of winners is testament to that. We have winners like Lighting Gaffer, Carolina Schmidtholstein, and Visual Effects Supremo, Sara Bennett, who are breaking ground in their respective fields as women in very male dominated trades; incredible potential with emerging talent like Michaela; and the likes of Sarah Lancashire and Gabby Logan who have carved out immensely impressive careers on screen.
“We are delighted this year to honour Beryl Vertue with The EON Productions Lifetime Achievement Award as her contribution to television over the past 50 years has been outstanding. She is a true legend in production and is an inspiration to so many.”
