Zendaya, pictured, stars in award-winning sci-fi epic 'Dune' alongside Timothee Chalamet. Reuters
Zendaya, pictured, stars in award-winning sci-fi epic 'Dune' alongside Timothee Chalamet. Reuters
Zendaya, pictured, stars in award-winning sci-fi epic 'Dune' alongside Timothee Chalamet. Reuters
Zendaya, pictured, stars in award-winning sci-fi epic 'Dune' alongside Timothee Chalamet. Reuters

‘Dune’ awards season glory: Abu Dhabi-shot sci-fi is only film to bag more than two Baftas


Katy Gillett
  • English
  • Arabic

While Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog has been winning many of the big film awards this year, Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi epic Dune is taking home far more.

At Sunday's Bafta awards, the film, starring Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya, won five trophies from its 11 nominations, for visual effects, production design, sound, Greig Fraser’s cinematography and Hans Zimmer’s score.

Scroll through the gallery below to see images from the Baftas 2022 red carpet:

  • Lady Gaga, wearing a custom emerald Ralph Lauren Collection dress, upon arrival at the 75th British Academy Film Awards in London. AP Photo
    Lady Gaga, wearing a custom emerald Ralph Lauren Collection dress, upon arrival at the 75th British Academy Film Awards in London. AP Photo
  • Naomi Campbell, in a black velvet Burberry gown. AP Photo
    Naomi Campbell, in a black velvet Burberry gown. AP Photo
  • Ariana DeBose, wearing yellow Oscar de la Renta. EPA
    Ariana DeBose, wearing yellow Oscar de la Renta. EPA
  • British actor Daniel Kaluuya, wearing feather-trimmed Prada. AFP
    British actor Daniel Kaluuya, wearing feather-trimmed Prada. AFP
  • Salma Hayek, wearing purple velvet Gucci. Getty Images
    Salma Hayek, wearing purple velvet Gucci. Getty Images
  • Irish actress Caitriona Balfe in a custom velvet Armani Prive dress. AFP
    Irish actress Caitriona Balfe in a custom velvet Armani Prive dress. AFP
  • Sienna Miller, wearing a Gucci gown with lace gloves. AP Photo
    Sienna Miller, wearing a Gucci gown with lace gloves. AP Photo
  • Emma Watson, in a halter-top Oscar de la Renta dress. AFP
    Emma Watson, in a halter-top Oscar de la Renta dress. AFP
  • British actress Daisy Edgar-Jones, in fringed Gucci. AFP
    British actress Daisy Edgar-Jones, in fringed Gucci. AFP
  • Lucy Boynton, in silver Chanel. AP
    Lucy Boynton, in silver Chanel. AP
  • French actress Lea Seydoux, wearing a sequin embroidered Louis Vuitton gown. AFP
    French actress Lea Seydoux, wearing a sequin embroidered Louis Vuitton gown. AFP
  • Millie Bobby Brown, wearing black velvet and lace Louis Vuitton. AP Photo
    Millie Bobby Brown, wearing black velvet and lace Louis Vuitton. AP Photo
  • British actor Benedict Cumberbatch and his wife Sophie Hunter. AFP
    British actor Benedict Cumberbatch and his wife Sophie Hunter. AFP
  • Florence Pugh, in black Carolina Herrera with a white train. AP Photo
    Florence Pugh, in black Carolina Herrera with a white train. AP Photo
  • Sebastian Stan, in a Givenchy tuxedo. AFP
    Sebastian Stan, in a Givenchy tuxedo. AFP
  • Rebecca Hall, in silver sheer Christian Dior couture. Getty Images
    Rebecca Hall, in silver sheer Christian Dior couture. Getty Images
  • Adwoa Aboah, in black Saint Laurent. AFP
    Adwoa Aboah, in black Saint Laurent. AFP
  • Haley Bennett, in red Valentino. AFP
    Haley Bennett, in red Valentino. AFP
  • Host Rebel Wilson, in a tiered tulle Giambattista Valli Couture dress. AFP
    Host Rebel Wilson, in a tiered tulle Giambattista Valli Couture dress. AFP
  • Rachel Zegler, in blue Vivienne Westwood. AFP
    Rachel Zegler, in blue Vivienne Westwood. AFP
  • Daisy Ridley, wearing a Vivienne Westwood gown. Getty Images
    Daisy Ridley, wearing a Vivienne Westwood gown. Getty Images
  • Emilia Jones, in a gold Atelier Versace halter gown. AFP
    Emilia Jones, in a gold Atelier Versace halter gown. AFP
  • British actress Lashana Lynch. AFP
    British actress Lashana Lynch. AFP
  • British actor Riz Ahmed, wearing clashing Gucci pieces. AFP
    British actor Riz Ahmed, wearing clashing Gucci pieces. AFP
  • Alana Haim and Este Haim. AFP
    Alana Haim and Este Haim. AFP
  • British actor Tom Hiddleston and British actress Zawe Ashton. AFP
    British actor Tom Hiddleston and British actress Zawe Ashton. AFP
  • Emerald Fennell, in a royal blue velvet Gucci tuxedo. Getty Images
    Emerald Fennell, in a royal blue velvet Gucci tuxedo. Getty Images
  • British actor Stephen Graham. AFP
    British actor Stephen Graham. AFP
  • British actress Ellie Bamber. AFP
    British actress Ellie Bamber. AFP
  • Jessie Buckley. AP Photo
    Jessie Buckley. AP Photo
  • Renate Reinsve. AP Photo
    Renate Reinsve. AP Photo
  • British actor Ciaran Hinds. AFP
    British actor Ciaran Hinds. AFP
  • British actress Simone Ashley. AFP
    British actress Simone Ashley. AFP
  • Millicent Simmonds. AP Photo
    Millicent Simmonds. AP Photo

It was shot in the Liwa desert in the summer of 2019. The vast open landscape was used as the setting for the planet Arrakis — a dangerous place known for its exclusive supply of Spice, the most essential and valuable commodity in the universe.

“Firstly, I’d like to congratulate Denis Villeneuve and the cast and crew of Dune on securing five incredible wins," said Hans Fraikin, Abu Dhabi Film Commissioner.

"Dune is the only film to secure more than two trophies at the Bafta awards this year. I can’t help but be proud of Abu Dhabi Film Commission’s and Abu Dhabi-based production company Epic Films’ collaborative involvement, and celebrate the breathtaking natural landscape of Liwa in Abu Dhabi — the perfect backdrop for planet Arrakis in the film."

The Critics Choice Awards 2022 were also held on Sunday night, and Dune was the recipient of three awards: Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects and Best Score.

This is a true testament to everyone’s efforts working on the film in Abu Dhabi
Hans Fraikin,
Abu Dhabi Film Commissioner

"Dune also received a host of nominations, including Best Director and Best Picture, at the Critics Choice Awards 2022," said Fraikin. "The film benefited from Abu Dhabi Film Commission’s 30 per cent cashback rebate, and I must note this is a true testament to everyone’s efforts working on the film in Abu Dhabi.”

Earlier this year, the film took home the Best Score Golden Globe, and received 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Cinematography. The Academy Awards will take place on March 27.

“Abu Dhabi has played host to a growing slate of fantastic, award-winning films and we are very proud of Dune’s well-deserved nominations for 10 categories including Best Picture," Fraikin told The National at the time.

"We always knew that this film would be a spectacular piece of cinematography, and its critical and commercial success have shown it was even more impressive than we imagined."

In a behind-the-scenes video previously released by the Abu Dhabi Film Commission, Villeneuve revealed what drew him to Liwa as a central location for the film.

"What I found in Abu Dhabi is unmatchable. There’s a scale to the dunes and the desert in a variety of shapes that we thought was absolutely mesmerising," he says.

"There’s also some climatic conditions there that were perfect for us because of the proximity to the city, it's like a strange kind of haze in that air that I was looking for that matched totally with the look of the film.”

Updated: February 07, 2024, 1:30 PM