Hollywood musical "La La Land" picked up five British BAFTA movie awards on Monday, at a glitzy London ceremony charged with filmmakers' political messages. The dreamy tribute to the heyday of Hollywood musicals picked up gongs for best film, best director and best actress, paving the way for Oscar success later this month. "La La Land" also won in the cinematography and original music categories, while it lost out in six of its 11 nominations at the ceremony at London's Royal Albert Hall. Accepting the award for best director - beating off competition from the likes of Ken Loach and Tom Ford - Damien Chazelle said it was an "incredible honor" and a pleasure to be there along with those behind the film. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award for leading actress went to Emma Stone, who plays an aspiring actress in "La La Land" and took on a political tone in her acceptance speech. "In a time that is so divisive I think it's really special we were all able to come together tonight, thanks to BAFTA, and to celebrate the positive," she said. The best actor BAFTA award went to Casey Affleck, for his role in the American drama "Manchester By The Sea", beating Ryan Gosling who was nominated for "La La Land". Kenneth Lonergan's "Manchester" also won the original screenplay award, which the director said he was "overwhelmed" to accept. Flying the flag for UK filmmaking was Ken Loach's "I, Daniel Blake", which won the outstanding British film award but lost out in four other categories. Accepting the award for outstanding British film, 80-year-old Loach said filmmakers stand "with the people" and took aim at the government. "The most vulnerable and poorest are treated by the government with a callous brutality that is disgraceful," he said. The glamorous ceremony was woven with political messages, beginning with host Stephen Fry making a jibe at US President Donald Trump who recently described veteran actress Meryl Streep as "overrated". "I look at row after row of the most overrated people in the audience," quipped the actor, after stepping out at the end of an opening performance by Canadian-based Cirque du Soleil. Dev Patel, who was named best supporting actor for his role in "Lion", said he was already a winner before the ceremony. "I already just feel so happy to be here. It sounds like a real cliché but I've got my whole family with me. I'm here on home turf at the BAFTAs wearing a tuxedo walking this red carpet. I feel like a winner," he said.
