From the sun soaked shores of California to the heart of London.

The Newport Beach Film Festival made the 5500 mile journey to celebrate the brilliance of UK and Irish cinema.

Welcome to the 2025 Newport Beach Film Festival, UK HONOURS night.

Right here from one of the most iconic buildings in London, England, the old War Office Raffles Hotel.

It’s such a special place.

We love to come here.

The celebrations that we have, like tonight, are very special.

It’s really exciting to be here and the honorees that they have on the list are phenomenal.

And I love using the arts to bring us all together.

I can’t even believe that I’m being honored.

So I’m very thrilled to be here.

Thank you for having me.

Oh my gosh, there’s so many people here tonight.

I’m excited about Felicity Jones, Jessica Gunning, who everyone loved in Baby Reindeer.

I just saw Adam Pearson.

I loved a different man.

You guys have really good actors and really good content.

The national treasure that is Stephen Fry is going to be in the building as well.

So for just that alone, that’s like spectacular.

I’m thrilled.

I naturally deserve it.

I am truly iconic.

Oh, yes.

I can’t yes, I can’t say that.

It’s turning to so well.

Oh, no.

It’s turning to ashes in my mouth.

As I said, we’ll be bringing you all the action from the red carpet to the main stage icons from the world of UK film and television.

And we get to meet Variety’s 10 Brits to Watch to watch for 2025.

So join us as we take you access all areas to one of the biggest nights of the year.

Steeped in British history, the setting for this glamorous evening is one of the great architectural landmarks of the Edwardian age.

Once known as the Old War Office, where Winston Churchill and others made world shaping decisions, British spies traded secrets and Ian Fleming found inspiration for double o seven.

This iconic building now hosts one of the biggest nights in British cinema.

Welcome to the eighth annual Newport Beach Film Festival, UK and Irish honors.

While we get to honor some of the best British and Irish talent working in the film and television industry, today we are thrilled to begin tonight’s festivities honoring Emma Corrin.

I do feel like you get lost behind all of his.

Ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma.

Deadpool’s are a dime a dozen here in the void.

But you.

What’s going on in here?

I want to say that in light of the fires in LA recently that have devastated so many communities.

This really feels like more now than ever, a time to really embrace our creativity and recognize the power of our industry and what it does.

So I really want to dedicate this to everyone in our industry who’s lost their homes in the fire and whose livelihoods have been changed.

Yeah.

This is for you.

And we would be nowhere without what you do.

Thanks.

Woo Now it’s time for the break out category.

We’re going to start with a BAFTA Rising Star nominee and the star of BBC’s and HBO’s hit show industry.

Marisa Abela.

How do I get out?

How do I get out?

I’ve been in my mind so long.

I mean, it’s amazing to be amongst such incredible company.

It just doesn’t even feel real.

My first job was on Cobra and then industry and then back to back.

It’s all English, so I know that I’m doing something here, so it’s nice to know I’m doing something over there as well.

So thank you so much.

Oh, God.

Oh, no.

What have I done?

What have I done?

Go go go go!

Oh, no!

Oh my God!

I don’t know why I’m crying.

Hi.

I was five years old.

It was the first time I ever saw in a cinema.

And.

And just the atmosphere of cinema.

You’re sharing this collective experience with strangers in a room, and there’s something quite magical about that.

So that’s what made me fall in love with film I. I’m acutely aware.

I’m very lucky to get to do what I do and call it work.

And I think anyone who’s associated with this industry, even tangentially, is by definition and by heart, a storyteller.

And I’m acutely aware now that I have to use my platform to not only champion Stories being about disability or not.

But to also throw a ladder down.

Other disabled talent coming up and show the world what they’ve got.

I recognize this assassin.

Who hired you to kill me?

No, no.

Suicide pill.

To the company.

I’m afraid my knowledge database is not really changed.

I do not know what this creature is or how to remove it safely.

But there’s someone in this room who might.

This whole ride is a bit of a dream.

And I commend anyone who stepped into the shoes that I’m stepping into.

It’s not easy, but it’s very special.

I’m having a good time.

I really am.

I’m just a boy from East London.

Really trying to chase something that feels like it’s not been done.

And I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for people that dream before me.

I often feel like I’m standing on the shoulders of giants.

I mean it.

And I’m really grateful to Newport Beach for recognizing British talent.

We’re a tiny island, and for some reason, people quite dig us.

So.

So, you know, let’s keep doing what we do, and we’re hoping for more people to go.

Yeah, you’re quite good.

So thank you.

Thank you very much.

I used to watch people, Actors I love, like Gary Oldman and Cillian Murphy, Chadwick Boseman all talk about getting to their point of it being a bit of a whirlwind.

All the things following your heart and doing the things that you love.

Kind of meet, a bigger audience.

And that’s really wonderful.

But obviously I’m just like a small I’m genuinely I’m just a bit of a small town boy, so it’s nice to.

You know what I mean?

I’m.

I’m riding it.

I’m having fun.

I’m enjoying it.

Yeah.

I wanted to make that I love him.

That’s right, that’s right.

Nick.

Yeah.

I want it to be an actor since the day I was born.

I come from a tiny island called the Isle of Man, and so that was never really an achievable goal.

I saw so many of my friends go to drama school and then come back and work in an office because they couldn’t afford to live in London.

And so I resigned to myself to the fact that it probably wouldn’t ever happen.

And I’m really grateful to to the cast of Heartstopper that they let me, you know, live my dream that I never would be able to do before.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Now we celebrate more exciting new talent as we move to the variety.

Ten Brits to watch.

This list has become a standard for emerging UK talent, and we’re excited to have all ten of these amazing, talented artists with us tonight.

I am so pleased and honored and honestly, just a little bit intimidated to welcome Variety’s class of ten Brits to Watch 2025.

It’s a huge privilege.

I was actually astonished to be added to the list.

I was quite taken aback, but in the best possible way.

I’m delighted and honored and very grateful for the opportunity.

So yeah, it feels very surreal and very, very, life affirming.

Now it is time for a little bit excited to meet our second artist of distinction.

Sharon Horgan.

You think someone’s trying to kill him?

Oh.

That’s insane.

How?

Why did he, Did he see anything?

Grace.

Grace, just take a breath.

And he says it’s the only explanation.

Someone drugged him and threw him into the Marina and left him for dead.

Genuinely, I’ve been so inspired by the work of everyone who’s been honored tonight.

I’ve watched almost all of it, I swear to God.

The BAFTA view is like my Netflix and, you know, from humongous, very ambitious projects to film and TV that’s made on a shoestring.

It’s all, you know, just made me want to be a better writer and to, to work harder.

And, Thank you so much for that.

You must have been living under a rock.

If you’ve not heard of our first spotlight recipient, because their performance in Baby Reindeer.

Has garnered her an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe, a Critics Choice Award, and a SAG Award nomination.

Jessica Cunningham.

There you are, you cowardly.

Two timing the nerve you showed me the other night, rubbing that skank in my face.

All right, that’s enough.

Martha.

You’ve made an enemy of me.

Reindeer meat.

Martha.

Mistake.

I hope you know what you’ve done.

It wounded me like that.

I always get really nostalgic with things like this, and I start to kind of think about the little me who wanted to be an actor.

And I always think, little did I know, when I wanted to be an actor.

You know, 14, 15, 16 that I’d even get to work as an actor, let alone, you know, 17 years on, play a part like Martha in Baby Reindeer.

Nights like this really are very special.

I feel very honored to be here.

And thank you so much for this.

Honestly, it means a lot.

Thanks.

Joe Alwyn has established himself as one of the most compelling talents of his generation, earning recognition for his ability to bring depth and authenticity to every role.

Terribly sorry about my father’s theatrics.

Must have caught you off guard.

It’s quite all right.

He often makes these decisions without consulting the rest of us.

Did not take any of it to heart.

You should.

You should use it.

My father would like us to hire you.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Newport Beach film festival.

This is a real honor.

I think like lots of people here, I just feel very lucky and grateful that I get to do this job in the first place.

And so any kind of, recognition on top of that is, is a real bonus.

And this is really lovely.

So cheers.

Thank you.

Ambika Mod was named a BAFTA breakthrough following her heartbreaking and nuanced role in This Is Going to Hurt and has quickly become one of the most exciting actors, earning admiration for her natural charisma, compelling performances with a talent for drama and comedy.

I stopped worrying about stupid stuff like not having gone to the right school or not being in the Edinburgh type, and instead I just had four of the funniest, happiest years of my life.

I’ve been so lucky, so early on in my career.

I want to keep defying the image of what we deem to be a leading woman.

I want to see more brown people on TV.

And, I really hope that this is the start of that.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Will Sharpe captivated audiences with his distinct ability to craft layered, emotionally impactful stories in front of and behind the camera.

Sir, we need a gunner from the RAF.

Oh, chap.

Are you gonna be dropped out of the plane?

Or are you the actual plane?

I guess I am the plane.

I didn’t go to film school or drama school or anything.

So how I learned was from just making sketches or short films or even feature films, like just with my friends.

I feel like that’s how I grew up learning how to do this.

So to me, it kind of feels natural in a way, and I think that’s when I feel most comfortable on a set.

And also like my favorite projects all have an essence of that, where it’s actually just a group of people just trying to collaborate together and sort of find a way to make the film or tell the story, which is certainly how it felt on a, you know, like a real pain, for example, with Jessie and, and that lovely cast and crew.

I would just like to sort of take a second just to acknowledge the diversity of the nominees, because it does.

I feel like it it does make a difference.

And when you do allow us to be here, it does make a difference for us, but also for like the generations after us.

So thank you for that also.

We move on now to our next category of the evening.

It’s time for the Artist of Distinction Award.

Get out of the car and march all the way back to Manhattan, if I could, you egotistic scoundrel.

There is no reason for me to be here.

I’m here for you.

I could do my ridiculous job anywhere.

I feel like production is is very much in my in my DNA.

And and just learning over so many years, I’ve.

Now.

I can’t believe it makes me sound terribly old, but I’ve been doing it for 30 years, and.

And through that time, you just absorb so much by being on set by, the years accumulate and and you, you realize how tough it is to bring stuff to the screen, but how special it is when something so, so unusual and so powerful comes through and is appreciated by audiences.

You could only be an artist of distinction, depending on the people that surround you and what you can achieve.

When people come together and we make stories that we believe in.

So thank you to them and thank you to everybody here.

Thank you.

Thank you.

This is still really surreal for me.

I mean, like the whole last year has just been like stuff like this.

It’s like it never really sinks in.

I suppose the thing that I look forward to most about these things is like getting to meet your peers and getting to meet people that you’ve admired, and just being in those circles is really cool.

And also, you get to dress up and like, look nice and that’s pretty nice as well.

So yeah, I can’t complain.

It means such a great deal to be surrounded by all this ridiculously amazing, talented people.

It means so, so much and at such an early juncture in my very small career with a very small body of work.

It really, really means a lot to be honored.

I always try and be led by the heart and not think too much.

And therefore, when people kind of notice you because of the choices you’ve made instinctually, there’s no better honor.

The phrase national treasure comes to mind when we discuss this year’s icon recipient.

It truly isn’t anyone quite like the marvelous, magnificent, truly fantastic Stephen Fry.

Come again?

My wife.

Oh, she doesn’t understand me.

She’s never understood me.

What?

Polish or something?

Is she?

I say, Jeeves, what an extraordinary talent.

Thank you sir.

Could one inquire?

I’m sorry sir.

No, no, of course not.

Now.

Now then.

Now then.

Now then then now.

Does it know thyself?

I used to say I didn’t know myself.

What’s the stop?

What’s the stop?

Miracle and I going to bed together right now?

Yes.

Practicing law in London is like light beer.

It may look like law and smell like law, but when you swig it right down, it doesn’t have the same effect.

Look, if you’re still uncertain, do what you always do with your more toxic political proposals.

Label it a pilot scheme and start it off in Scotland.

It’s not my fault they live in a place that stinks of fish oil and tar.

Jobs, shelter, food.

That’s all they ever bleat about.

I’m beginning to understand how a man of a particular disposition, under certain circumstances, extreme ones perhaps might grow to enjoy the company of a person of of of your gender.

Is everything a joke to you, Gordon?

Only the things that matter.

What if they come after you?

Listen, I tell you what’s going to happen.

I’m going to have to make some kind of apology, do some boring fundraiser.

And in the meantime, our ratings will go through the roof.

It’ll be fine.

Trust me.

You’re often defined in this life.

Not by what you’re good at, but what what you’re bad at and at school.

It was so clear I was bad at all the things that have valued sport, music, dancing, art, painting, drawing.

And I thought I was going to have a life of complete misery.

And then I realized that the one thing I was kind of good at was putting one word after another for the purpose of making people laugh, or for entertaining or beguiling.

I would read stories and make up stories in the dormitories at night.

And growing up gay in the middle of the country in the 1960s and 70s.

It seemed to me that my future was clearly going to be one of silence, exile, mockery, shame.

All the terrible things that you saw in the newspapers befell gay people, and showbusiness is an easy place to be gay.

So many creative people gravitate towards the open and tolerant world of showbusiness.

But also when it came to discovering my own mental health issue that I was, you know, had this condition.

Bipolar disorder and the arts are a place where the mind is free and it can fly like a bird.

And films reinforce that, that you could live in a fantastic world of sharp wit and speed.

And still to this day, there’s nothing like it.

It’s extraordinary to think the British ran the world from this building?

Mostly very badly.

I’m sorry to say.

But one thing we do, perhaps a little better, is tell stories and make films and this incredible panoply of young talent that I’ve had the privilege of watching coming up on the stage.

Filled my heart with utter joy.

It’s extraordinary to see the remarkable diversity, yes, of background and of upbringing and so on.

But the diversity of talent, the wit, the fire, the extraordinary ability that these young people have.

And in 20 or 30 years time, one of them, I’m sure, will win one of these fabulous awards.

And, they, like me, will be able to look back on a life filled with luck and love.

Thank you very much indeed.

As the curtain falls on another unforgettable night, we thank you for joining us for the 2025 Newport Beach Film Festival UK honors.

Celebrating the stories that move us and the artists who bring them to life.

Thank all of you and we’ll see you at the movies.

Newport Beach.

I thought I got lost somewhere.

Where’s the.

Where’s the sand?

Where’s the surfboards?

This is actually really heavy.

Just FYI.

What a beautiful structure.

Do you want me to hold it for you?

Yeah.

I don’t know what to do with this.

I am ecstatic.

Listen, I’m British, so this is us being ecstatic.

I’m very, very excited.

Happy?

All right.

Cool.