The papal selection thriller “Conclave” and the period drama “The Brutalist” emerged as the big winners at the BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday, each securing four awards.
“Conclave” dominated the evening, scooping up the prestigious best film award. It also garnered accolades for outstanding British film, best adapted screenplay, and best editing, having entered the night with a leading 12 nominations.
In his acceptance speech for the outstanding British film award, “Conclave” director Edward Berger spoke about the current political climate. “We live in a time of a crisis of democracy, and institutions that are usually used to bring us together are used to pull us apart.”
“And sometimes it’s hard to keep the faith in that situation, but that’s why we make movies and that’s why we made this movie.”
“The Brutalist,” which tells the extensive three-and-a-half-hour story of a Hungarian immigrant architect rebuilding his life in post-World War Two America, was also in the running for best film and won the best director for Brady Corbet and best actor for its lead, Adrien Brody.
“This film is really about this pursuit of leaving something meaningful, and I think that is something we can all relate to,” commented Brody during his acceptance speech.
Additionally, “The Brutalist” took home awards for original score and cinematography.
Mikey Madison clinched the leading actress award for her role as an exotic dancer entangled with a Russian oligarch’s son in “Anora,” a performance that outshone anticipated favorites Demi Moore and Marianne Jean-Baptiste.
Madison expressed her surprise and gratitude, saying, “I really wasn’t expecting this,” and took a moment to acknowledge the sex worker community, adding, “you deserve respect and human decency. I will always be your friend.”
Following its success at the Critics Choice Awards and both the Producers and Directors Guild of America Awards, “Anora” was poised as a strong contender for best film, alongside the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown.”
In another category, “Emilia Perez,” blending musical and crime genres, claimed victory in the film not in the English language category.
Director Jacques Audiard, in accepting his award, remarked humorously, “This is too nice, you shouldn’t have done that,” dedicating the award to his entire team and highlighting an absent Karla Sofia Gascon, a nominee for leading actress.
Zoe Saldana received the supporting actress award for her role as a lawyer assisting a Mexican cartel leader, portrayed by Gascon, in staging his own death and transitioning genders.
Despite early momentum, “Emilia Perez” faced setbacks in its awards campaign following controversies surrounding Gascon’s past comments, leading her to step back from the public eye to support the film’s Oscar chances.
In the supporting actor category, Kieran Culkin was awarded for his performance in the dramedy “A Real Pain,” which also won best original screenplay for writer-director Jesse Eisenberg.
