Pope drama, immigration epic, and conclave At Sunday’s Bafta film awards, The Brutalist took home some of the biggest honors.
German filmmaker Edward Berger’s Conclave won four awards in total, including best British film and best film. This is the first time a film has won both in the same year since the war drama from 1917. It also took home the awards for best editing and best adapted screenplay.
The Brutalist, directed by Brady Corbet of the United States, also took home four awards. Adrien Brody won best actor for his performance as Holocaust survivor and Hungarian architect László Tóth. The movie also took home the best cinematography and original score awards.
Other winners were Zoe Saldaña (best supporting actress for Emilia Pérez), Kieran Culkin (best supporting actor for A Real Pain), and Mikey Madison (best actress for Anora).
The complete list of Baftas winners for 2025
The EPA Zoe Saldaña, wearing a black dress with feathers, raises her bafta.The EPA
When Zoe Saldaña displayed her Bafta for supporting actress, she appeared ecstatic.
After winning the British film prize, Berger said, “This is a huge, huge honor.” I feel very welcome among you because I am not even from here and I am the best British.”
Films in this category “must have significant creative involvement by individuals who are British,” according to Bafta regulations.
After adding that we are currently experiencing a democratic crisis, Berger concluded his remarks by quoting Leonard Cohen, who once said, “There is a crack in everything, that is how the light gets in.”
Brody informed the crowd Corbet claimed to be “humbled and very grateful,” whereas the Brutalist “is really about the pursuit of leaving something meaningful.”
David Tennant hosted the ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Wearing a kilt, the actor began the ceremony by singing “I am Going to Be” (500 Miles), a classic song by The Proclaimers, with James McAvoy and Colman Domingo joining him.
The Baftas also followed this pattern, with multiple films sharing the spoils and no single film taking home the trophy in what has been an unpredictable awards season.
Ralph Fiennes led the charge with 12 nominations for the film Conclave, which tells the story of a cunning and gossipy group of cardinals who meet in Rome to choose a new Pope.
