HAVING worked on numerous box office hits such as Slumdog Millionaire, you would think sound engineer and mixer Niv Adiri would be used to the limelight.

But the 39-year-old from Howe Close, Wheatley, has spoken of his nerves before it was announced his team won the Bafta for sound in the blockbuster Gravity, at the red-carpet ceremony at the Royal Opera House, London, on Sunday night.

He only calmed down by finding his wife Abbie, 37, in the audience as he stood on stage with team members from Studio 24, based at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, to take the award for work on the 3D sci-fi thriller staring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney.

He said: “It was just amazing and such a great feeling. I was a bit nervous beforehand, I don’t think you can’t be.

“Winning a Bafta is just so great. I am so proud. It is a British award and this film is so British.

“The Oscars are the next big one, but just because we’ve got the Bafta recognition doesn’t mean we will get that. They don’t really compare.

“I’m really looking forward to heading out there.”

He added: “When it was my chance to speak, at first I couldn’t see my wife. I didn’t want to look at the first few rows as that is where all the big names are sitting, so I tried to find her.

“I eventually did and I just concentrated on her when I was talking and looked at her throughout.”

The couple, who have two sons Leo, three and Eden, five, joined the post ceremony celebrations and mingled with Hollywood stars. They partied with Leonardo DiCaprio and bumped into Tom Hanks over breakfast.

Mr Adiri said: “Normally we are just getting up at that time, not going to bed. It has definitely been an experience.”

The team is up for the same category at next month’s Oscars. Gravity won six Baftas, including Best British Film and Best Director.

Mr Adiri is working on a number of other films, including Black Sea, starring Jude Law.

Oxford film-maker misses out on award

An Oxford film-maker missed out on a Bafta for her short film on Sunday. Selina Lim, below, wrote Keeping Up With The Joneses, a 28-minute-long work starring Silk actress Maxine Peake. It was nominated for Best British Short Film alongside four other films – and Room 8 took the award.

Oxford Mail:

 

The 38-year-old, who lives in Summertown with her three children Jacob, Lily and Sofia, said: “It was very exciting, I had no idea I was even long-listed, never mind short-listed.”

Even though she was disappointed she did not win, Ms Lim said: “I’m very aware that my second ever screenplay has been nominated for a Bafta. That’s amazing.”

Her first short film, Painkiller, was commissioned as part of Cineast, a digital short film programme produced by BBC Writersroom and B3 Media.

She is now developing a feature-length film and said: “I have some ideas for that. I want to spend the next few months really knocking them into shape.”