Charles Finch Prefers Fishing Knots to TV
The party mastermind behind every year’s BAFTA festivities has a culture diet full of surprises.
Back in 1999, Charles Finch threw a party before the BAFTA Awards to celebrate returning to England after two decades of making films abroad. The tradition stuck: Now an entrepreneur with his own media company, Finch continues to host the yearly party, a semi-infamous celebration that counts Tom Cruise among its repeat attendees. Reprieved of planning until next year, and having just published The Night Before BAFTA, his new book featuring his most recognizable guests, Finch took the time share his culture diet, which is full of fishing knots and free of TV.
First thing you read in the morning: The New York Times, the Financial Times, email, texts.
Books on your bedside table right now:Why the Allies Won by Richard Overy, Wisdom from the Celtic World by John O’Donohue, and Practical Fishing Knots and Mark Sosin and Lefty Kreh.
The TV show keeping you up at night:None.
Last movie you saw in theaters:The Revenant.
Batman or Superman: Batman, of course—every gent loves a black cape and a mask!
Last thing you saw at the theater:Cats, with my daughter!
Last piece of art you bought, or ogled:Mary Fedden, bought from Richard Green gallery.
Last museum exhibition you loved:Hilma af Klint at the Serpentine Gallery, London.
Release you’re most eagerly anticipating:Silence, the new Martin Scorsese movie.
Song you currently have on repeat:Joe Cocker, “Unchain My Heart.”
Last concert you saw live:The Stones … way back.
How you get your news:Newspapers and online: New York Times, BBC, NPR.
Favorite account to follow:@Prince_Street_ on Instagram.
Last thing you do before bed:Put my ear plugs in!
Photos: Charles Finch Prefers Fishing Knots to TV
Charles Finch with his new book, “The Night Before BAFTA,” and Owen Wilson. Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Guillaume Canet, and Diane Kruger at Finch’s pre-BAFTA party in 2005. Photo courtesy of Charles Finch.
Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Tom Cruise at Finch’s pre-BAFTA party, 2015. © Jonathan Becker
Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams at Finch’s pre-BAFTA party, 2007. Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images.
Harvey Weinstein, Jemima Goldsmith, and Adrian Anthony Gill at Finch’s pre-BAFTA party, 2015. © Jonathan Becker.
Julianne Moore and Tom Ford at Finch’s post-BAFTA party in 2003. Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images.
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 09: (L to R) Tom Cruise, Josh Berger, Ben Affleck, Olga Kurylenko and Jennifer Garner attend the Charles Finch and Chanel Pre-BAFTA cocktail party and dinner at Annabel’s on February 8, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images)
“The Night Before BAFTA,” published by Assouline.
