2023 Oscar Nominations – British Talent Background and Film Locations

Friday 10 February 2023

Rooftop terrace restaurant with expansive city views

This year marks the 95th anniversary of the Academy Awards - the Oscars. On 12 March 2023, hundreds of millions of movie lovers will watch the glamorous ceremony and learn who will receive the highest honours in film making. The nominations for this year’s awards announced in January include British actors and film makers. Learn more about some of the nominees and how to explore Britain’s best filming locations featured in the films and the host cities.

The Batman - Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects

The latest instalment of ‘The Batman’ received three nominations in the categories ‘Sound Design’, ‘Makeup & Hair Styling’ and ‘Visual Effects’. One of the most noticeable features in the movie was new music which bought life to the scenes of Gotham City.

The primary filming locations were in Liverpool with some scenes shot in London and Glasgow. In Liverpool, shooting took place at Anfield Cemetery and on the viewing platform on the 15th floor of the renowned Royal Liver Building which provides spectacular 360° views of the Liverpool skyline. The Royal Liver Building offers immersive experiential tours of the building with friendly local guides. Grade I listed St George's Hall hosts a great variety of events and exhibitions throughout the year, from guided tours visiting the Great Hall, Concert room and prison cells to atmospheric candle lit evenings with live music.

In London scenes were shot at a variety of locations. Nightclub shots were captured at Printworks in Surrey Quays. Originally, the venue was home to the largest printing factory in Western Europe and has transformed into a stunning, industrial environment famous for various club events and spectacular lighting. The O2 Arena on the Greenwich Peninsula is much more than a live music venue and shopping centre. Adventurous visitors can take on an exhilarating outdoor climb over the roof of the building and enjoy incredible views of London. Since summer 2021, TOCA Social offers the world’s first interactive football and dining experience at the O2. From April, London in the Sky returns to the venue with the unforgettable dining in the clouds experience - an epic setting for a date or the chance to treat your loved ones to an experience they will never forget.

The Victorian garden cemetery Necropolis in Glasgow is the backdrop for the scene at the end of the film as Batman and Catwoman ride through the cemetery on their motorbikes. Guided walking tours of the large cemetery are offered to learn more about its wonderful architecture, sculpture and fascinating stories and to glimpse the film locations in person.

Filming also took place at Cardington Studios in Bedfordshire and Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden which offers a studio tour. Visitors can walk in the footsteps of film stars, see behind the scenes special effects and explore the studios which produced Harry Potter and other films including The Batman.

Empire of Light - Best Cinematography - Roger Deakins

Brit Roger Deakins was nominated for best cinematography for Empire of Light directed by British Director Sam Mendes (who wrote the screenplay and packed the film with British talent). Cinema manager (Olivia Colman) is struggling and a new employee (Michael Ward) is longing to escape the town where he faces daily conflict. Together they find a sense of community and experience the healing power of music and cinema. Scenes from the film were shot in Margate and the starring location is Dreamland, a former cinema with a ballroom and an impressive art deco exterior attached to a seaside funfair. Mendes (who hails from the South West of England) saw the location and rewrote the screenplay to include more scenes in the building and the area including the funfair’s roller rink. Scenes from the film were shot in the Winter Gardens, Lido, Cliftonville and Arlington House, Café Darcy, Sands Café, Marina Café and Wildes.

Broadstairs, Cobtree Manor Park and stations in Margate and East Kent Railway also feature. Kent and Margate lend themselves to the screen with their cinematic horizons, sunsets and landscapes that continue to inspire artists today. The locations can be visited and Margate has a range of award winning foodie restaurants including Angela’s, a stunning seafront, quirky boutiques and the iconic Turner Contemporary gallery overlooking the sea.

Kent was listed as one of Lonely Planet’s Best Regions in 2022 and has a fantastic range of instagrammable locations and things to do.

The Banshees of Inisherin - Best Director - Martin McDonagh

The British-Irish playwright screenwriter, producer, and director Martin McDonagh is competing this year in the category ‘Best Director’ against Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Steven Spielberg, Todd Field and Ruben Östlund.

McDonagh wrote, directed and co-produced the dark tragicomedy film ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’. The story is set on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland. After a disagreement of two lifelong friends, one of them abruptly ends their relationship which has severe consequences for both of them. McDonagh’s parents are Irish but he was born and bred in London.

London has been the setting of many other films and TV and is a favourite location for directors, actors and producers, many of whom have who have made it their home. TV series include Bridgerton which shot the Ranger’s House on the Edge of Greenwich Park, Hampton Court Palace in Richmond (known for the music festival, events and tours), Lancaster House in Westminster and The Reform Club located in the heart of Pall Mall. James Bond films had shoots at the Vauxhall Cross SIS Building (also known as the MI6 Building) which overlooks the Thames and features in ‘GoldenEye’, ‘The World is Not Enough’, ‘Die Another Day’, ‘Skyfall’ and ‘Spectre’. The scene in which Bond meets Q for the first time in Skyfall was filmed in London at the National Gallery. The capital is bursting with spell-binding spots from the Harry Potter films. Some of the must visit locations are Millennium Bridge which collapses in ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ and Leadenhall Market which was used as Diagon Alley.

Living - Best Actor - Bill Nighy

Nighy, one of the UK’s most popular actors, is nominated this year for ‘Best Actor in Motion Picture Drama’ for his performance in ‘Living’ – a post-World War II London drama. Nighy plays a humourless civil servant who decides to take time off work after receiving a terminal health diagnosis to make more of his life and be the best version of himself. Scenes from the film were shot in London’s County Hall, Waterloo Station, Brighton’s iconic Railway station, All Saints’ Church in Kings Langley and the Lido Cafe in Worthing.

Bill was born in Caterham in Surrey and started his professional career at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool.

Liverpool knows how to put on a show whether it is at Liverpool Empire Theatre which has Britain’s largest two-tier auditorium, or at the Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot close to the city which opened last summer. Reel Tours offers a great way to explore the city on a cinematic adventure visiting many prominent film locations. For all Peaky Blinder fans, Brit Movie Tours put together a tour during which visitors can experience more than ten filming locations up close from all three series of the show. The city will be the stage for the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine in May this year.

To Leslie - Best Actress - Andrea Riseborough

The English actress and producer Andrea Riseborough is nominated for the category ‘Best Actress’ for her performance in ‘To Leslie’, a movie inspired by true events. Andrea plays Leslie, a West Texas single mother who wins the lottery and misspends all the money, leaving behind a world of heartbreak. Leslie ends up as an alcoholic and has nowhere to go but she fights to turn her life around and find redemption.

Riseborough grew up in Whitley Bay, a seaside town near Newcastle upon Tyne.

Whitley Bay and Newcastle. People’s Theatre in Newcastle upon Tyne is where Riseborough’s action career started. The vibrant city in the north of England charms visitors with the famous Geordie spirit. The city is bursting with thriving nightlife, an award-winning restaurant scene, top-notch attractions and museums and places to stay. Head to Blackfriars Restaurant housed in a converted 13th century refectory to taste the best seasonal produce, explore the city from the water on a fairy-lit kayak tour with fun and expert guides after dark and stay at the first Moxy Hotel in Northeast England which opens later this year in the city. Whitley Bay is known for its golden sands and the St Mary’s Lighthouse which provides phenomenal vistas over the Bay and Tyneside.

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse – Best Animated Short - FilmCharlie Mackesy

Charlie Mackesy is a British artist, illustrator and author of the internationally bestselling book ‘The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse’. It tells the story of four friends on a journey of friendship. The book explores their vulnerability, kindness, hope and love along the way and the life lessons they learn on their adventure. The book was turned into a movie which aired on the BBC over Christmas and which has already landed a nomination for an Oscar.

Mackesy grew up in Northumberland surrounded by nature. Nowadays, he spends most of his time in Brixton in South London and on the Suffolk coast.

Suffolk attractions include the Broads National Park which is a popular holiday destination to escape from the hustle and bustle of London (two hours by train). Suffolk is also known for the music, dance, comedy and literature festival ‘Latitude’ which takes place every July. The festival is set up in the stunning surrounds of Henham Park on the coast close to Southwold. A hidden gem is the picturesque British seaside village Winterton-On-Sea with sand dunes, seals and traditional thatched cottages. Discover the Broads on water by cruising down the 200km of lock-free rivers and lakes on a hire boat or rent a kayak, canoe or Stand Up Paddle Board for the day.