Indian-Origin Asif Kapadia Wins Best Documentary BAFTA for ‘Amy’

In his acceptance speech, Kapadia paid tribute to Amy, who died in 2011 at the age of 27.

Director Asif Kapadia poses for photographers with his award for Best Documentary for ‘Amy’ backstage at the BAFTA 2016 film awards at the Royal Opera House in London, Sunday, February 14, 2016. (Photo: AP)

Indo-British filmmaker Asif Kapadia has won the Bafta for his poignant documentary Amy on late British singer Amy Winehouse.

Kapadia’s Oscar-nominated film beat Cartel Land, He Named Me Malala, Listen to Me Marlon and Sherpa to win the honour.

The filmmaker in his acceptance speech paid tribute to the star, who died in 2011 at the age of 27, following a battle with drug and alcohol.

We really fell in love with her while making the film and our aim and mission was to try and tell the truth about her. To show the world what an amazing person she was, how intelligent, how witty, how beautiful she was, before it all kind of got out of control and went a bit crazy.

Kapadia said referring to the tabloid circus around Winehouse’s life.

The 44-year-old filmmaker, later, took to Twitter to thank the crew of the film.

The film has been critics favourite since making its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last year. The singer’s father Mitch has, however, distanced himself from the documentary, calling it a disappointment.

This is Kapadia’s third trophy at the British Film Awards.

He has previously won awards for sports documentary Senna in 2012 and Irrfan Khan-starrer The Warrior in 2003.