BAFTA 2022 Film Awards: Andy Serkis skillfully rips into Priti Patel’s visa rules for Ukrainian refugees and the UK’s ‘hostile’ immigration policy while presenting on stage
- Unlike the EU – which is allowing Ukrainians three-year residency without a visa – the UK has retained controls on entry, saying they are essential for security
- Priti Patel announced on Wednesday that Ukranians with a passport will no longer have to attend an in-person appointment at a Visa application centre
- This only applies to Ukrainians applying to come to UK who already have family living in the country, and therefore fall under the ‘reunion’ scheme
The UK has been criticised for only taking in about 1,000 Ukrainian refugees so far, while people flee as their homeland is invaded by Russian troops.
And during Sunday night’s BAFTA 2022 Film Awards, Andy Serkis, 57, skillfully ripped into Home Secretary Priti Patel’s visa rules and the UK’s immigration policy, while presenting Best Director at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
The Lord Of The Rings star branded the Tory MP’s handling of visa applications ‘a complete nightmare’ while indicating that, in general, she has created a ‘hostile environment’ for asylum seekers.
‘Nightmare’! During Sunday night’s BAFTA 2022 Film Awards, Andy Serkis, 57, ripped into Home Secretary Priti Patel’s visa rules for Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion
Taking to the stage, Andy said: ‘A world class director is a visionary empowered to change the world with a story that they’re burning to tell.
‘Bringing together and leading a huge family of supremely talented strangers on a difficulty and chaotic journey
‘Whilst hopefully creating an atmosphere that inspires, is inclusive and values every single member of that family equally
‘So it’s no surprise that Priti Patel on her debut feature, Hostile Environment, found enormous problems.
‘And that her follow up movie – All Refugees Are Welcome But Some Are More Welcome Than Others – is a complete nightmare.’
‘Hostile!’ He branded the Tory MP’s handling of visa applications ‘a complete nightmare’ while indicating that, in general, she has created a ‘hostile environment’ for asylum seekers
Unlike the European Union – which is allowing Ukrainians three-year residency without a visa – the UK has retained controls on entry, saying they are essential for security.
Earlier this week Boris Johnson defended the nations response to the crisis and said an upcoming scheme will allow Britons to take citizens from the war torn country into their homes.
The scheme will enable Britons to put people fleeing the war up in a spare room, or perhaps give them a job. However, it is expected that anyone offering to house a Ukrainian refugee will have to pass Disclosure and Barring Service checks, which will slow the process further.
Scores of Ukrainian families were turned away at Calais with just 760 people granted visas under the Home Office’ Family Support Scheme despite tens of thousands of applications.
Following mounting criticism, Priti Patel announced on Thursday major changes to the visa regime – but charities said they did not go far enough.
How does the visa process work and why do people have to provide biometric data?
The Government’s refugee scheme means British nationals with family in Ukraine are now allowed to bring their relatives to Britain while Ukrainians living in the UK can do the same.
People in Ukraine who are eligible to come to the UK must apply for a visa online.
This process requires people to provide a wealth of information about themselves and formal evidence to back up their application.
They must provide their full name, date of birth, their current passport and details of any criminal convictions.
They must also prove their link to the UK.
For example, someone who is looking to join their partner in Britain must prove that they are married or have been living together for at least two years.
They must provide evidence to show this is the case in the form of a marriage certificate, a tenancy agreement, utility bill or bank statement.
Once they have submitted their application with supporting documentation they are currently required to attend an in-person appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC).
When they attend their appointment they are asked to give biometric data in the form of fingerprints.
This data is then used by the UK to conduct security checks which then informs the decision on whether someone is granted a visa.
The UK has faced criticism for sticking to this system because the situation on the ground in Ukraine makes it difficult for people to attend a VAC.
The easing of rules from Tuesday March 15 for Ukrainian passport holders will see the requirement to attend a VAC as part of the application process removed.
People granted permission to come to the UK will be required to attend a VAC to give biometric data after they arrive in Britain.
While on the red carpet at the BAFTAs earlier in the evening, Andy Serkis insisted that ‘arts do hold humanity together.’
Reflecting on the Russian invasion of Ukraine he told the PA news agency: ‘It’s a difficult situation having a celebration like this when such horrendous, horrific things are happening not too far away from here.
‘But I think it’s also important that arts are celebrated because arts do hold humanity together, and actually freedom of speech and the power of storytelling is something that I think Ukrainians would totally applaud.
‘So if we hold them up tonight and reflect the enjoyment and the passion back to them, I don’t think it’s a bad thing.’
He added: ‘It’s really important to remember what is going on in the context of having an event like this.
‘But as I say, what it stands for is so positive, because it’s about inclusion, because actually Bafta have really, really moved, in the last few years, towards inclusion.’
BAFTAs 2022: THE WINNERS
Best Film
The Power of the Dog- WINNER
Belfast
Don’t Look Up
Dune
Licorice Pizza
Outstanding British Film
Belfast- WINNER
After Love
Ali & Ava
Boiling Point
Cyrano
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
House of Gucci
Last Night in Soho
No Time To Die
Passing
Leading Actress
Joanna Scanlan, After Love – WINNER
Lady Gaga, House of Gucci
Alana Haim, Licorice Pizza
Emilia Jones, CODA
Renata Reinsve, The Worst Person in the World
Tessa Thompson, Passing
Leading Actor
Will Smith, King Richard- WINNER
Adeel Akhtar, Ali & Ava
Mahershala Ali, Swansong
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog
Leonardo DiCaprio, Don’t Look Up
Stephen Graham, Boiling Point
Supporting Actress
Victory: Ariana DeBose was awarded the gong for Best Supporting Actress
Ariana DeBose, West Side Story – WINNER
Caitríona Balfe, Belfast
Jessie Buckley, The Lost Daughter
Ruth Negga, Passing
Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard
Ann Dowd, Mass
Supporting Actor
Congrats: Troy Kotsur got Supporting Actor for his role in Coda
Troy Kotsur, CODA- WINNER
Mike Faist, West Side Story
Ciarán Hinds, Belfast
Woody Norman, C’mon C’mon
Jesse Plemons, The Power of the Dog
Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog
Director
Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog- WINNER
Aleem Khan, After Love
Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Drive My Car
Audrey Diwan, Happening
Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza
Julia Ducournau, Titane
Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer
The Harder They Fall- WINNER
After Love
Boiling Point
Keyboard Fantasies
Passing
Adapted Screenplay
CODA- WINNER
Drive My Car
Dune
The Lost Daughter
The Power of the Dog
Original Screenplay
Licorice Pizza- WINNER
Being the Ricardos
Belfast
Don’t Look Up
King Richard
EE Rising Star Award
EE Rising Star Award: Bond star Lashana Lynch won
Lashana Lynch -WINNER
Harris Dickinson
Millicent Simmonds
Kodi Smit-McPhee
Ariana DeBose
Cinematography
Dune- WINNER
Nightmare Alley
No Time To Die
The Power of the Dog
The Tragedy of Macbeth
Animated Film
Encanto- WINNER
Flee
Luca
The Mitchells vs The Machines
Documentary
Summer of Soul (Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)- WINNER
Becoming Cousteau
Cow
Flee
The Rescue
Film Not in the English Language
Drive My Car- WINNER
The Hand of God
Parallel Mothers
Petite Maman
The Worst Person in the World
Costume Design
Costume Design: Cruella won the gong
Cruella- WINNER
Cyrano
Dune
The French Dispatch
Nightmare Alley
Make Up & Hair
The Eyes of Tammy Faye- WINNER
Cruella
Cyrano
Dune
House of Gucci
Original Score
Dune – WINNER
Being The Ricardos
Don’t Look Up
The French Dispatch
The Power of the Dog
Editing
No Time To Die- WINNER
Belfast
Dune
Licorice Pizza
Summer of Soul (Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Production Design
Dune – WINNER
Cyrano
The French Dispatch
Nightmare Alley
West Side Story
Sound
Dune – WINNER
Last Night in Soho
No Time to Die
A Quiet Place Part II
West Side Story
Special Visual Effects
Dune- WINNER
British Short Animation
Casting
Boiling Point
The Hand of God
King Richard
West Side Story
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