The 2025 BAFTA Film Awards saw two standout films, “Conclave” and “The Brutalist,” dominate the evening, each taking home four awards. “Conclave,” a gripping political thriller centered on papal selection, led the nominations with 12 nods and clinched the prestigious Best Film award. Additionally, the film won Outstanding British Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Editing.
Director Edward Berger expressed the film’s relevance to modern times in his acceptance speech for Outstanding British Film: “We live in a time of crisis of democracy, and institutions that once brought us together are now dividing us. It’s hard to keep faith, but that’s why we make movies, and that’s why we made this one.”
Meanwhile, “The Brutalist,” a powerful period drama about a Hungarian immigrant architect rebuilding his life in post-World War II America, secured Best Director for Brady Corbet and Best Actor for Adrien Brody, who portrayed the protagonist. “This film is really about the pursuit of leaving something meaningful,” Brody reflected in his speech, emphasizing the universal theme of finding purpose. The film also won Best Original Score and Best Cinematography.
In a surprise twist, Mikey Madison triumphed in the Best Leading Actress category for her role as an exotic dancer in “Anora,” a drama about her involvement with a Russian oligarch’s son. Despite fierce competition from Demi Moore, acclaimed for her role in “The Substance,” and Marianne Jean-Baptiste for “Hard Truths,” Madison’s victory was seen as an unexpected delight. She dedicated her award to the sex worker community, pledging to be a steadfast ally.
“Anora,” which had already garnered momentum after winning multiple accolades, including at the Critics Choice Awards and the Producers and Directors Guild of America Awards, was also in the running for Best Film, alongside Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown.”
The Best Film Not in the English Language award went to “Emilia Perez,” a genre-blending musical crime film. Director Jacques Audiard accepted the honor, sharing it with his team, including absent lead actress Karla Sofia Gascon, who was nominated for Best Leading Actress.
Zoe Saldana earned the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in “Emilia Perez,” portraying a lawyer who assists a Mexican cartel leader, played by Gascon, in faking his death and transitioning. The film had previously been a frontrunner, but its campaign lost momentum amid controversies surrounding Gascon’s past social media posts.
In the Supporting Actor category, Kieran Culkin emerged victorious for his performance in the dramedy “A Real Pain,” which also won Best Original Screenplay for writer-director Jesse Eisenberg.
With multiple standout performances and surprising moments, the BAFTA Film Awards underscored the diversity and boldness of this year’s cinematic offerings.
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