Mon Feb 17 03:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Bafta Awards: “Conclave” and “The Brutalist” Dominate, Upsetting Oscars Predictions

London – The British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) delivered a series of surprises Sunday night, defying expectations ahead of next month’s Oscars. While considered a strong Oscars predictor, this year’s BAFTAs showcased a diverse range of winners, shaking up the race for Hollywood’s biggest night.

Edward Berger’s “Conclave,” a Vatican-set thriller starring Ralph Fiennes, took home four awards, including Best Picture and Outstanding British Film. Berger, reflecting on the film’s themes of political division, stated, “We live in a time of a crisis of democracy…Sometimes it’s hard to keep the faith, and that’s why we make movies.”

Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist,” an epic drama, also secured four awards, including Best Director and Leading Actor for Adrien Brody, who gave an emotional acceptance speech thanking his partner, Georgina Chapman.

The Best Actress category saw a major upset, with Mikey Madison (“Anora”) winning over frontrunner Demi Moore (“The Substance”). Madison used her acceptance speech to advocate for the sex worker community.

Another unexpected win was for “Emilia Pérez,” which took home two awards despite controversy surrounding its star, Karla Sofía Gascón, who faced backlash for past social media posts. Director Jacques Audiard dedicated his award to Gascón, seemingly extending an olive branch following a public rift.

Supporting Actor Kieran Culkin (“A Real Pain”) won, solidifying his status as an Oscars frontrunner, although he was absent from the ceremony. Jesse Eisenberg, who accepted on his behalf, shared heartwarming anecdotes about Culkin’s dedication to family. Eisenberg also won Best Original Screenplay for the film.

Other notable wins included “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” for Best Animated Film and Best Family Film and “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” for Best Documentary. Warwick Davis received the Bafta Fellowship, delivering an emotional acceptance speech.

The ceremony, hosted by David Tennant, included musical performances and lighthearted moments, though some political jokes were edited for broadcast. While the BAFTAs often align with Oscar winners, the introduction of diversity initiatives in recent years has made predicting the Academy Awards based solely on BAFTA results increasingly difficult. The Academy Awards ceremony is set for next month.

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