Duncan Kenworthy is new Bafta chairman

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) has announced that Duncan Kenworthy OBE has become its new Chairman, succeeding outgoing Chair Michael Attwell after his two year tenure.
Mr Kenworthy has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in film and television since the 1970s. An independent since 1994, he has produced some of the most successful British films of the last decade.
In 1994, he produced Working Title's Four Weddings and a Funeral, a small film which became a global success, grossing more than $250 million worldwide - at the time, the highest grossing British film of all time. He received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations as well as winning the French César and British Academy Award. He was named British Producer of the Year 1994 by the London Film Critics' Circle.
A second collaboration with Four Weddings writer Richard Curtis and actor Hugh Grant, resulted in the romantic comedy Notting Hill – which became the first British film to gross $100 million at the US box office and, with a worldwide box-office of more than $360 million, is one of the highest grossing British films of all time.
In 2003, he produced the multi-story Christmas film Love Actually, once again teaming up with Richard Curtis, Hugh Grant and Working Title. The worldwide hit film ($250 million) was nominated for numerous awards, including two British Academy Awards and a Golden Globe Award, winning acting awards for Emma Thompson and Bill Nighy. The DVD sold a million copies in one day on its release in the UK in March 2004.
In 1999, Mr Kenworthy was honoured with an OBE for services to the film industry. He was a founding board member of the UK Film Council (his four year term ended in Autumn 2003), is Chairman of the British Council Film Advisory Committee and a Governor of the National Film and Television School.
Michael Attwell will continue to serve the Academy as Deputy Chair for a further year.
(gmcg)