LONDON — An unusually wide-open Oscar race stays unsure following the 78th annual EE British Academy Movie Awards, the place trophies had been handed out with the blanket enthusiasm of Oprah Winfrey making a gift of vehicles. (You get a BAFTA! And also you get a BAFTA!) Though Edward Berger’s “Conclave” took residence 4 awards, together with greatest movie and excellent British movie, this yr’s BAFTAs honored almost each main film in competition, together with “The Brutalist,” “Anora,” “Emilia Pérez,” “The Substance,” “Wicked” and “A Real Pain.” The ceremony, held for the third yr at London’s Royal Competition Corridor, additionally introduced just a few surprises.
All through the night, returning host David Tennant saved issues gentle and breezy and producers ticked via the checklist of awards with admirable (and really British) effectivity. Nearly everybody steered away from politics, there have been solely minor flubs and {a partially} reunited Take That carried out — a joyous, ’90s-nostalgic second that could be misplaced on American viewers. Contained in the theater, the present spanned greater than three hours, whereas the viewers streaming at residence noticed an edited two-hour model. It wasn’t essentially the most dramatic yr, however it was a pleasing, celebratory one, befitting a very robust yr of cinema.
Right here’s what occurred behind the scenes on the BAFTAs.
Recognition of Los Angeles
It took some critical wrangling to get the viewers into the theater after a lingering two-hour champagne reception held throughout a number of ranges of the venue. As soon as friends had been efficiently herded inside, it took much more wrangling to get everybody to sit down down. Finally settled, the gang acquired a sequence of directions: Discover the hearth exits, don’t swear, amp up the passion. “Basically, to the Brits in the crowd, be a bit more American,” mentioned the useful, unidentified announcer.
Previous to Tennant’s introduction, BAFTA chair Sara Putt took the stage. She welcomed the viewers after which instantly supplied her ideas to Los Angeles following the latest wildfires.
“Before we begin, I want to take just a moment to send our heartfelt best wishes to our friends and colleagues in L.A. who have been impacted by the terrible wildfires, including many of our own BAFTA members,” Putt mentioned. “We stand alongside you in admiration at your resilience and strength as you begin to rebuild. I also want to express our deep gratitude to those from the California community who have joined us here in London tonight.”
Putt additionally acknowledged the broad array of movies nominated. “It has been a year of fabulous creativity and storytelling,” she mentioned. “This year’s 42 nominated films are an incredible showcase of the very best in filmmaking today, both in Britain and globally.” That commentary proved itself true all through the night.
No canine allowed
Host David Tennant will get the BAFTAs underway.
(Tristan Fewings / BAFTA / Getty Photographs for BAFTA)
Final yr, Tennant earned the love of the BAFTA viewers with a gap sketch that concerned Michael Sheen and an lovable canine named Bark Ruffalo. This yr, he was sadly dog-less. As a substitute, the Scottish Tennant welcomed viewers with a pre-recorded section that includes Helen Mirren, Jim Broadbent and Brian Cox. Within the clip, Cox and Tennant started singing the Proclaimers’ “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles),” finally transitioning to Tennant stay within the theater singing and dancing his approach right down to the stage. He amended the lyrics to suit the event, chanting, “I would walk 500 miles to host one BAFTAs more.”
The host acquired huge applause from the appreciative viewers, who laughed when his mic pack fell off and he quipped, “Now cut that part out.” His monologue was quick, with some strong jokes about sequels (“I’m back too”) and the nominated movies. He even invoked Donald Trump, the one reference of the evening to the U.S. president. “I’ve already said his name three times,” Tennant mentioned. “It’s like summoning Beetlejuice.”
Conspicuously absent 
Zoe Saldaña accepts the BAFTAs’ supporting actress prize for “Emilia Pérez.”
(Stuart Wilson / BAFTA / Getty Photographs for BAFTA)
Karla Sofía Gascón’s controversial tweets have overshadowed the awards run for “Emilia Pérez.” Gascón, nominated for main actress, was not in attendance, though her co-stars Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez had been entrance and middle. Nonetheless, Gascón’s scandal loomed over the ceremony. “Emilia Pérez” obtained a extra scattered response than different nominees at any time when talked about or showcased in a video clip, and the viewers appeared unsure tips on how to react when Gascón’s identify was learn throughout her class (she didn’t win).
Extra telling was filmmaker Jacques Audiard’s acceptance speech for movie not within the English language, which ran far over his allotted time. After not too long ago disavowing himself from his main woman, Audiard used the chance to re-embrace Gascón, a second that was uncomfortably awkward. Talking by way of a French interpreter, Audiard thanked Zoe and Selena earlier than including, “but also you, my dear Karla Sofía, [who] I kiss. I’m deeply proud of what we achieved together.”
Saldaña additionally thanked Gascón in her speech for supporting actress, though it was much less overt. “This was a creative challenge of a lifetime,” Saldaña advised the gang, after admitting that her youngsters requested her to not cry this time. She added that she wished “to thank my wonderful cast, Karla, Selena, Adriana.”
“Films are supposed to change hearts and challenge minds,” Saldaña famous, maybe obliquely referencing the controversy. “And I hope that ‘Emilia Pérez’ did something like this.” (For the file, Saldaña did cry twice, though she appeared to get well shortly. She additionally swore when she went over her time restrict, breaking one of many foremost guidelines of the BAFTAs.)
Getting their second 
The staff behind “Kneecap,” together with writer-director Wealthy Peppiatt (proper), celebrates successful the award for excellent debut by a British author, director or producer.
(Tristan Fewings / BAFTA / Getty Photographs for BAFTA)
A spotlight of awards season is seeing less-celebrated movies and filmmakers get their due. The BAFTAs supplied a number of alternatives to honor artists who might not have gotten an Oscar nomination or who didn’t anticipate they might discover themselves on the stage with a statue in hand.
Though “Kneecap” was Eire’s official submission for the Oscar, it was ignored within the eventual nominations. The BAFTAs gave writer-director Wealthy Peppiett’s six probabilities to win and the scrappy movie took residence excellent debut by a British author, director or producer. Peppiett discovered himself getting a standing ovation from a number of individuals within the room, together with the members of Kneecap, because the viewers cheered and whooped for him.
Onstage, he appeared utterly awe-struck. “I’m absolutely honored to be standing here,” Peppiett mentioned. “Fifteen years ago today, I actually met my wife and a decade later, she convinced me to move to Belfast. And within two weeks of moving to Belfast, I met Kneecap. And now I’m standing here.”
He added, in one of many night’s few semi-political statements, “‘Kneecap’ is more than a film. It’s a movement and it’s about how everyone should have their language respected. They should have their culture respected and they should have their homeland respected. This award is dedicated to everyone who is out there fighting that fight.”
One other candy second got here when Jesse Eisenberg was awarded unique screenplay for “A Real Pain.” The actor and filmmaker was so flummoxed when his identify was learn by presenter Lupita Nyong’o that he admitted, “I didn’t think I would win.” He added, “I do want to share this with my wife, who didn’t come because she didn’t think I win. The person who sat me didn’t think I’d win.” He devoted the award to his spouse, Anna Strout, saying she had “dragged” him across the globe. “It’s the way I got to know about the world, which is what this movie is about,” Eisenberg mentioned, incomes aws from the gang.
There have been extra for the annual EE Rising Star award winner David Jonsson (greatest recognized stateside for “Alien: Romulus”), who appeared equally unprepared to win (it’s the one award voted on by the British public). “I’ve got to be honest,” Jonsson mentioned. “This isn’t why I do it.” He defined that rising up in East London he didn’t actually see an area for himself within the leisure business. “But this award is about people and as long as we keep telling stories about people, I think there’ll be a space for me and for people like me and you and everyone watching at home,” Jonsson added.
Sharing the craft love
Not like final yr when “Oppenheimer” swept each awards present on the circuit, this yr’s BAFTAs saved issues pretty equitable. “Wicked” missed out on the appearing classes, however earned awards for costume design and manufacturing design. “The Substance” fittingly received make-up & hair, whereas “The Brutalist” took residence cinematography and unique rating. Composer Daniel Blumberg shouted out to his director, Brady Corbet, noting, “It’s been amazing to work with one of my best friends.”
Two of essentially the most heartwarming speeches got here when “Dune: Part Two” received particular visible results and sound. Each winners spent their time on stage praising filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, whose directorial efforts have been largely ignored by awards our bodies this yr. Additionally acknowledged a number of occasions: “Wicked” director Jon M. Chu, one other filmmaker ignored by the Oscars.
Just a few upsets 
Mikey Madison receives her main actress award for “Anora” on the BAFTAs.
(Tristan Fewings / BAFTA / Getty Photographs for BAFTA)
One of many massive surprises of the evening got here when Mikey Madison received main actress for “Anora,” successful a tricky class of nominees that included Oscar frontrunner Demi Moore and beloved Brit Marianne Jean-Baptiste, star of “Hard Truths.” Though Madison’s victory resulted in a shot of Mike Leigh shaking his head in frustration at Jean-Baptiste’s loss, the gang was thrilled by the twist. “I really wasn’t expecting this,” Madison mentioned, admitting she didn’t have a speech ready. She added that she “probably should have listened to my publicist” and written one thing, prompting her publicist to face up within the crowd and scream in settlement.
Within the documentary class, it appeared like “No Other Land” can be a straightforward winner. However the movie, which is nominated for the Oscar, was ignored for “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story.” Administrators Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui had been thrilled by the dignity and introduced three of Reeve’s youngsters onstage with them to simply accept the award. Bonhôte recalled being on the BAFTAs 7 years in the past when he was nominated for “McQueen” and admitted that after dropping that yr his youngsters started to name him “BAFTA-less Dad.” Not anymore.
A real honor 
Warwick Davis accepts the celebrated Fellowship Award for lifetime achievement, the evening’s highest honor, on the BAFTAs.
(Stuart Wilson / BAFTA / Getty Photographs for BAFTA)
The BAFTA Fellowship is awarded annually to somebody who has made an impressive contribution of their profession. This yr’s honoree was British actor and “Willow” star Warwick Davis. The actor, an integral a part of many blockbuster franchises, together with “Star Wars” and “Harry Potter,” helms Little Folks UK, which helps individuals with dwarfism like himself. Davis was feted by Tom Felton, a.okay.a. Draco Malfoy, earlier than a tribute video that includes George Lucas, Mark Hamill and Ron Howard was aired. Davis’ youngsters Annabelle and Harrison closed the emotional clip, which celebrated the actor’s prolific and joy-filled profession.
Davis obtained a prolonged standing ovation and deafening applause as he took the rostrum, preserving his composure till he shared that he has been heartbroken since he misplaced his spouse Samantha final yr. “Since then, life has been pretty tough for me,” Davis acknowledged. He thanked his youngsters for serving to him proceed working and interesting in life earlier than acknowledging one other particular somebody, although not by identify. “You know who you are,” he mentioned, getting choked up, a response shared by the viewers. “Thank you for showing me that life will still have meaning and for helping me to laugh and to love again.”
The actor quipped that he would preserve his speech quick (“yeah, you can laugh”), however regardless of its terseness, it was the evening’s most emotional second.
Election of a brand new pope 
The staff from “Conclave” receives the award for excellent British movie on the BAFTAs.
(Tristan Fewings / BAFTA / Getty Photographs for BAFTA)
By the top of the evening,voters had spoken and “Conclave” had been declared greatest movie. The ultimate award was offered by Mark Hamill, whose look was marred by shaking fingers and a pair of trousers that gave the impression to be slipping off his waist. The actor was visibly thrown as he introduced the class and the producers lower the massive screens within the room. The printed was later edited, though Hamill regained his composure when he learn out the winner. Many friends speculated concerning the incident through the dinner afterward, questioning with concern whether or not Hamill had a momentary anxiousness assault.
It didn’t affect the “Conclave” crew, nevertheless. The filmmakers took the stage alongside co-stars Isabella Rossellini and Ralph Fiennes, with 14 individuals in complete accepting the statuette. (Consistent with the movie itself, solely three had been girls.) Berger notably thanked Focus Options and U.Okay. distributor Black Bear for “pushing the film into the theaters in such a big way,” a reminder that the yr’s prime motion pictures are greatest loved on the massive display screen.
Earlier within the evening, accepting for excellent British movie, Berger famous, “We live in a time of a crisis of democracy and institutions that 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 really made this movie.”
An entire checklist of tonight’s winners
Finest Movie: “Conclave”
Director: Brady Corbet, “The Brutalist”
Main Actress: Mike Madison, “Anora”
Main Actor: Adrien Brody, “The Brutalist”
Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña, “Emilia Pérez”
Supporting Actor: Kieran Cukin, “A Real Pain”
Excellent British Movie: “Conclave”
Excellent Debut by a British Author, Director or Producer: “Kneecap”
Movie Not within the English Language: “Emilia Pérez”
Documentary: “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story”
Animated Movie: “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl”
Tailored Screenplay: “Conclave”
Unique Screenplay: “A Real Pain”
Unique Rating: “The Brutalist”
Costume Design: “Wicked”
Manufacturing Design: “Wicked”
Particular Visible Results: “Dune: Part Two”
Make-up & Hair: “The Substance”
Enhancing: “Conclave”
Cinematography: “The Brutalist”
Casting: “Anora”
Sound: “Dune: Part Two”
British Quick Animation: “Wander to Wonder”
British Quick Movie: “Rock, Paper, Scissors”
EE Rising Star: David Jonsson