London – Papal thriller “Conclave” took home four awards, including Best Picture, at the 78th British Academy Film Awards on Sunday. The film beat out other top contenders such as “The Brutalist” and “Emilia Pérez,” proving that it is still a strong awards contender despite facing backlash.
In addition to Best Picture, “Conclave” also won for Best Director (Brady Corbet), Best Actor (Adrien Brody), Best Editing, and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film follows a cardinal (played by Ralph Fiennes) as he navigates the treacherous world of the papal conclave to elect a new pope.
“The Brutalist” also won four awards, including Best Director for Brady Corbet and Best Actor for Adrien Brody. Mikey Madison took home the Best Actress prize for her role in the Brooklyn tragicomedy “Anora.”
“Conclave” and “The Brutalist” were both nominated for nine BAFTAs, making them the top contenders of the night. Other films with multiple nominations included “Emilia Pérez,” “A Complete Unknown,” “Dune: Part Two,” and “Wicked.”
The BAFTAs are often seen as a precursor to the Academy Awards, which will take place on March 2nd. This year’s awards season has been particularly difficult to predict, making the BAFTAs an even more important indicator of potential Oscar winners.
But the BAFTAs are not just a preview of the Oscars. They also have a distinctly British flavor, with Scottish actor David Tennant hosting the ceremony and a number of British stars in attendance. The night kicked off with a rousing singalong of The Proclaimers’ hit song “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).”
One of the most talked about wins of the night was Kieran Culkin’s Best Supporting Actor award for “A Real Pain.” The film, which follows two cousins on a journey to discover their heritage, also won Best Original Screenplay for writer and co-star Jesse Eisenberg.
In his acceptance speech, Eisenberg joked that his wife didn’t attend the ceremony because she didn’t think he would win. He also shared the award with his wife, saying, “I’d like to share this with my wife, who didn’t come because she didn’t think I’d win.”
“Anora,” which had been a favorite for Best Picture after winning top prizes at the Producers Guild Awards and Directors Guild Awards, only took home one award for Best Film Not in the English Language. The film follows an exotic dancer who becomes entangled with a Russian oligarch’s son.
One of the most talked about moments of the night was when Zoe Saldaña won Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Emilia Pérez.” The film, which also won for Best Film Not in the English Language, has been surrounded by controversy due to the social media posts of its lead actress Karla Sofía Gascón, who plays the titular transgender ex-cartel boss.
Gascón has withdrawn from promoting the film and its 13 Oscar nominations after facing backlash for her derogatory comments about Muslims, George Floyd, and diversity at the Oscars. Director Jacques Audiard has condemned Gascón’s comments, but still thanked her and co-stars Saldaña and Selena Gomez in his acceptance speech.
“I am deeply proud of what we have all achieved together,” Audiard said.
Other notable winners of the night included Warwick Davis, who received the BAFTA Fellowship for his contributions to the film industry and his work to create a more inclusive environment for actors under 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall.
The Rising Star Award, the only award voted on by the public, went to David Jonsson for his roles in the high finance drama series “Industry” and the London rom-com “Rye Lane.” In his acceptance speech, Jonsson quipped, “Star, I don’t know. But rising, I guess.”
The BAFTAs also honored the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, with a special tribute for his contributions to the film industry. Prince William, who is the honorary president of the British film academy, was unable to attend the ceremony due to school holidays for his three children.
In his recorded video message, Prince William sent his well wishes to all those affected by the recent Los Angeles wildfires, which also caused actress Jamie Lee Curtis to miss the ceremony.
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