After a period of silence during the awards season, the drama "Conclave," centered on a papal election, clinched the Best Film award at the 2025 British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA). This suspenseful work also garnered the Outstanding British Film award, with director Edward Berger accepting the honor on stage.
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03-10, 2025During his acceptance speech, Berger stated, "We are in a time of democratic crisis. The institutions that once united us are dividing us. It's hard to maintain faith in these circumstances, but that's precisely why we make films like this." He quoted Leonard Cohen, saying, "There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in."
"Conclave" tied for the most awards of the night with a total of four wins, with other awards including Best Editing and Best Adapted Screenplay. The World War II epic "The Brutalist" also secured four awards, including Best Actor for Adrien Brody, Best Director for Brady Corbet, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score.
The British Academy Film Awards not only celebrate British filmmaking but also serve as a crucial precursor to the Academy Awards, offering valuable insights into potential Oscar winners in the weeks ahead. Furthermore, Mikey Madison's exceptional performance in "Anora" led to a surprising win for Best Actress.
"Anora" tells the story of a young sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch and navigates the ensuing challenging aftermath. Madison mentioned in her acceptance speech that she should have heeded her publicist's advice and prepared a speech beforehand. She also called for greater understanding of the lives of sex workers. "Anora" also won Best Casting that night and was the only film to receive a musical tribute, with British boy band Take That performing the film's song "Greatest Day" live.
The semi-autobiographical film "Kneecap" by the Irish hip-hop group Kneecap, which chronicles their rise to fame, is a film filled with music, rebellion, and the Irish language that won the NEXT award at the Sundance Film Festival. Despite receiving numerous nominations, including making the Oscar longlist, it did not secure many awards. At this year's British Academy Film Awards, "Kneecap" received six nominations, ultimately winning only the Outstanding British Debut award. Writer and director Rich Peppiatt used his time on stage to emphasize the importance of respecting language, culture, and homeland.
The surprise Best Film win for "Anora" at the Critics Choice Awards, coupled with Madison's BAFTA win for Best Actress, has undoubtedly thrust the film back into the Oscar conversation. The Best Actress race will likely be between Madison and Demi Moore for "The Substance," the latter having won nearly every award this season. "Conclave" and "The Brutalist" remain neck and neck, securing the same number of awards at the British Academy Film Awards. However, with Corbet winning Best Director at both the BAFTAs and the Golden Globes, and Brody sweeping nearly every Best Actor award, it's safe to say "The Brutalist" will at least be mentioned on Oscar night.
Similar to the Critics Choice Awards, the momentum of former frontrunner "Emilia Pérez" has continued to wane after its impressive showing at the Golden Globes in January. Winning Best Film Not in the English Language and Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña at the BAFTAs is respectable, but Oscar chances appear to be impacted due to the controversy surrounding lead actress Karla Sofía Gascón. If there's one thing that seems certain on Oscar night, it's Kieran Culkin winning Best Supporting Actor for "A Real Pain." Culkin won the BAFTA in that category and has won nearly every award this season, almost guaranteeing his name will be in the Oscar envelope. Even more surprising, Jesse Eisenberg, the writer of "A Real Pain," won the BAFTA for Best Original Screenplay. The award has been shifting hands this season, with "Conclave" winning at the Golden Globes and "The Substance" at the Critics Choice Awards. Eisenberg's BAFTA win means his name still has a chance of appearing on Oscar night.
