Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast wins Golden Globe for Best Screenplay

Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast scooped the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay on Sunday night (January 9th).

Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical film led the pack for nominations along with The Power Of The Dog with both films shortlisted for seven prizes each. Belfast was nominated for best Drama Motion Picture but lost out to Jane Campion’s The Power Of The Dog.

Belfast’s Jamie Dornan and Ciarán Hinds lost out on best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture to The Power Of The Dog’s Kodi Smit-McPhee. It was a huge night for The Power Of The Dog as Campion also beat Branagh to best Director of a Motion Picture.

Watch the trailer for Belfast here.

Catriona Balfe was up for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in Belfast along with Passing’s Ruth Negga. The Irish pair lost out to Arianna DeBose for her role in Stephen Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story.

The famed director’s interpretation of the iconic musical also took home the prize for Best Musical or Comedy Picture and Best Musical or Comedy Actress through Rachel Zegler.

Van Morrsion was nominated for Best Original Song with ‘Down To Joy’ for Belfast. The legendary songwriter lost out to Billie Eilish and brother FINNEAS for their James Bond theme song ‘No Time To Die’ from the like-titled film.

The 79th edition of the awards ceremony took place behind closed doors due to Covid-19 and against a backdrop of controversy. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) had been accused of a lack of diversity after it emerged that they had no Black members.

This pushed the association to overhaul its bylaws and introduce changes regarding ethics and inclusion. The HFPA was also in hot water as its ethics were called into question due to alleged practices including accepting ‘freebies’ following a Los Angeles Times investigation.

During Sunday’s event — which had no stars present and received no television broadcast — the HFPA’s chief of diversity Neil Phillips was quoted as saying the event was a "necessary phase of progress".

History was made at the event as Pose star Michaela Jaé Rodriguez became the first transgender star to win a Golden Globe. She took home the prize for Best actress in a Drama TV series.

Also at the winners table was Nicole Kidman who won best actress for her role as comedy legend Lucille Ball in Being The Ricardos. Will Smith took home Best Actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams — father of tennis juggernauts Serena and Venus — in King Richard.

Succession swept the board for television categories as the acclaimed series took home Best Drama, Best Actor through Jeremy Strong and Best Supporting Actress through Sarah Cook.

Belfast opens in Irish cinemas on January 21st.

Check out the full list of winners below.

Best Motion Picture, Drama:

The Power of the Dog

Best Picture, Musical or Comedy:

West Side Story

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama:

Will Smith — King Richard

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama:

Nicole Kidman — Being the Ricardos

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy:

Andrew Garfield — Tick, Tick… Boom!

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy:

Rachel Zegler — West Side Story

Best Director, Motion Picture:

Jane Campion — The Power of the Dog

Best Supporting Actor, Motion Picture:

Kodi Smit-McPhee — The Power of the Dog

Best Supporting Actress, Motion Picture:

Ariana DeBose — West Side Story

Best Original Score, Motion Picture:

Dune — Hans Zimmer

Best Picture, Foreign Language:

Drive My Car

Best Screenplay, Motion Picture:

Kenneth Branagh — Belfast

Best Original Song, Motion Picture:

'No Time to Die' from No Time to Die — Billie Eilish, Finneas O'Connell

Best Motion Picture, Animated:

Encanto

Best Television Series, Drama:

Succession

Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy:

Hacks

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series, Drama:

Jeremy Strong — Succession

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Drama:

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez — Pose

Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy:

Jason Sudeikis — Ted Lasso

Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy:

Jean Smart — Hacks

Best Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television:

The Underground Railroad

Best Performance by an Actor, Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television:

Michael Keaton — Dopesick

Best Performance by an Actress, Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television:

Kate Winslet — Mare of Easttown

Best Supporting Actor, Television:

O Yeong-su — Squid Game

Best Supporting Actress, Television:

Sarah Snook — Succession