The 78th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) held in London on February 16, 2025, delivered surprises and memorable moments. The film’s success at the BAFTAs positions it as a serious contender for the upcoming Academy Awards on March 2, given the significant overlap between the voting bodies. In the acting categories, Mikey Madison pulled off a stunning upset, winning Leading Actress for her role in “Anora” at the age of 25, becoming the youngest winner since Scarlett Johansson in 2003.
A moment for @MediCinema, the 2025 recipient for the Outstanding Contribution to Cinema Award???? pic.twitter.com/yby6XHzUj4
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 17, 2025
The religious thriller “Conclave” emerged as the big winner of the night, taking home four awards including Best Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing, and Outstanding British Film. “Conclave” director Edward Berger expressed his deep humility in his acceptance speech as the cast and crew, including Isabella Rossellini, stood on stage smiling gleefully.
Congratulations to all the winners and nominees from the #EEBAFTAs 2025 ????✨
To see the full list of winners head to our website: https://t.co/FiZDAxZOxE
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 16, 2025
Adrien Brody won for his role in “The Brutalist,” while Zoe Saldaña and Kieran Culkin secured the Supporting Actress and Actor awards for “Emilia Perez” and “A Real Pain,” respectively.
The red carpet saw a parade of celebrities, including David Tennant, Selena Gomez, and Jeff Goldblum.
A few fun Oscar-season twists just now, courtesy of BAFTA: ANORA pulls off a surprise win for Actress, but can't clinch Film (CONCLAVE), Director (THE BRUTALIST), or Screenplay (A REAL PAIN). Hard to argue with ANORA's guild run so far, though this introduces some doubt.
— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) February 16, 2025
Conclave shines at BAFTAs event
Mikey Madison shared her thoughts on life in the spotlight, while Jesse Eisenberg explained his decision not to attend the Oscars despite his film’s success.
Veteran actor Warwick Davis was honored with the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship, acknowledging his extensive contributions to cinema. Photographers captured the proud moment as he held the award. The BAFTAs also delivered surprises in other categories.
So, does BAFTA signal a “Conclave” coup? Or is this just another case of Brits voting British before Hollywood does its own thing?https://t.co/UXT9FkFuwm via @Variety
— Clayton Davis (@ByClaytonDavis) February 17, 2025
“A Real Pain” won Original Screenplay, while “Dune: Part Two” secured wins in Sound and Visual Effects. The documentary category remains unclear, with BAFTA’s pick of “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” adding to the complexity of predictions. As the awards season continues, the BAFTAs have injected fresh excitement and unpredictability into the race.
All eyes now turn to the Academy Awards to see how the British picks will fare on Hollywood’s biggest night.
