'Three Billboards' leads the pack at politically edged BAFTA awards

Martin McDonagh, Peter Czernin, Sam Rockwell and Graham Broadbent, pose with Frances McDormand, as they hold their trophies for Best Film for 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri' at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

LONDON (Reuters) - Dark comedy "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" was the biggest winner at the BAFTA Film Awards, held in London on Sunday, an event which saw the campaign for women's rights in the entertainment industry take center stage.

"Three Billboards" won five awards, including best film, best actress for its lead performer Frances McDormand and a supporting actor award for Sam Rockwell. Writer-director Martin McDonagh also won for the film's original screenplay.

Guests arrive at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

The U.S.-set film also won the best British film honors, qualifying on the basis of its creative team and the companies involved in producing it, many of whom are British.

Though "Three Billboards" took home the most trophies, it did not dominate proceedings, with a number of critically well-received films also garnering recognition.

Mexican director Guillermo del Toro took the directing honors for his fantasy "The Shape of Water," Gary Oldman took the top male acting prize for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in "Darkest Hour," and Allison Janney was honored for her supporting turn in "I, Tonya."

Sam Rockwell holds his award for Supporting Actor for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Pixar animation "Coco" won for best animated film, while Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk" won for best sound, and Edgar Wright's "Baby Driver" won for editing. Daniel Kaluuya, the British star of "Get Out" took the rising star award.

The "Time's Up" campaign against sexual misconduct was a recurring theme throughout the evening. Many of the female attendees wore black outfits in a gesture of protest.

In his acceptance speech, McDonagh expressed the hope that such protests would bring about change.

Jennifer Lawrence arrives at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

"Our film is a hopeful one in lots of ways but it's also an angry one, and as we've seen this year, sometimes anger is the only way to get people to listen and to change, so we're thrilled that BAFTA has recognized this," he said.

In addition, many in attendance wore badges citing the campaign against sexual harassment, while honorees and presenters, including Sam Rockwell and British actress Lily James expressed support for the movement.

The night's biggest female winner, McDormand, did not join in the sartorial protest, saying in her acceptance speech that though she supported the movement, she had "a little trouble with compliance."

Daniel Kaluuya holds his rising star award at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Other notable winners included cinematographer Roger Deakins, who won for his work on "Blade Runner 2049." Deakins is also nominated at next month's Academy Awards for his work on the film.

He has been nominated 13 times for Oscars prior to his nomination this year, but has never won before, giving him more unsuccessful nominations than any other cinematographer in Oscars history.

Britain's Prince William and his wife Katherine arrive at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

(Writing by Mark Hanrahan; Editing by Sandra Maler)

Martin McDonagh, Peter Czernin, Sam Rockwell and Graham Broadbent, pose with Frances McDormand, as they hold their trophies for Best Film for 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri' at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Alex Gibson, Richard King, Gregg Landaker and Gary A. Rizzo hold their awards for Sound for the film Dunkirk at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Lily James and Gemma Arterton pose in the press room during the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Rebecca Ferguson arrives at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

Angelina Jolie arrives at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Allison Janney holds her award for Supporting Actress for I, Tonya at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Willem Dafoe and his wife Giada Colagrande arrive at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Gemma Arterton, Eileen Pullen and Sheila Douglass arrive for the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Alexandre Desplat holds his award for Original Music at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Presenters Orlando Bloom and Gugu Mbatha-Raw stand with James Ivory as he holds his award for Adapted Screenplay for Call Me By Your Name at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Peter Czernin, Martin McDonagh and Graham Broadbent hold their awards for Outstanding British Film for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Chiwetel Ejiofor and Frances Aaternir arrive for the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Margot Robbie arrives at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Saoirse Ronan arrives for the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Orlando Bloom arrives at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Hugh Grant and Anna Eberstein arrive for the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Cressida Bonas arrives at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Sir Patrick Stewart arrives at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Isabell Kristensen arrive for the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Kristin Scott Thomas arrives for the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Natalie Dormer arrives at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Octavia Spencer arrives at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Hofit Golan arrives for the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Kazuhiro Tsuji, Lucy Sibbick, Ivana Primorac and David Malinowski holds their awards for Make Up and Hair for the film Darkest Hour at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay