The 2025 BAFTAs lit up London on Sunday night, celebrating the best in cinema with surprises, heartfelt speeches, and a lively opening performance by host David Tennant. The evening saw Conclave and The Brutalist emerge as the biggest winners, while Mikey Madison delivered a shock victory in the Best Actress category.

‘Conclave’ Reigns Supreme

Papal thriller Conclave, which led the nominations with 12 nods, took home four awards, including Best Film, Outstanding British Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Editing. Director Edward Berger highlighted the film’s timely themes in his acceptance speech, noting, “We live in a time of a crisis of democracy and institutions that are usually used to bring us together are used to pull us apart. But that’s why we make movies.”

Peter Straughan, Tessa Ross, Edward Berger, Isabella Rossellini, Juliette Howell, Ralph Fiennes and Michael A. Jackman pose in the winners’ room as “Conclave” won the award for Best Film during the 2025 British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre, London, Britain, February 16, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

‘The Brutalist’ Matches With Four Wins

Period drama The Brutalist, a three-and-a-half-hour epic about a Hungarian architect rebuilding his life in post-war America, also secured four awards. Brady Corbet won Best Director, while Adrien Brody claimed Best Leading Actor for his performance. The film also triumphed in Best Original Score and Best Cinematography.

Brody, in his speech, reflected on the film’s themes: “This film is really about the pursuit of leaving something meaningful, and I think that’s something we can all relate to.”

Adrien Brody poses in the winners’ room with the award for the Best Leading Actor for “The Brutalist” during the 2025 British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre, London, Britain, February 16, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Mikey Madison’s Unexpected Best Actress Win

The night’s biggest surprise came in the Leading Actress category, where Mikey Madison won for Anora, beating out frontrunners Demi Moore (The Substance) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths). Madison, who played an exotic dancer entangled with a Russian oligarch’s son, was visibly stunned: “I really wasn’t expecting this. I should have listened to my publicist and written a speech.”

She went on to dedicate her award to the sex worker community: “You deserve respect and human decency. I will always be a friend and an ally.”

Mikey Madison poses in the winners’ room with the award for the Leading Actress for “Anora”, during the 2025 British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre, London, Britain, February 16, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Supporting Wins for Culkin and Saldana

Kieran Culkin won Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain, while Emilia Perez star Zoe Saldana took home Best Supporting Actress. An emotional Saldana, overwhelmed on stage, joked about her lack of a British accent and emphasized the film’s impact: “Films are supposed to change hearts and challenge minds, and I hope Emilia Perez did something like this.”

Zoe Saldana poses in the winners’ room with her award for Supporting Actress for “Emilia Perez” during the 2025 British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre, London, Britain, February 16, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

Memorable Moments

Host David Tennant set the tone with a musical opening, leading a rendition of I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) with help from stars like James McAvoy and Camila Cabello. Selena Gomez had an awkward yet charming moment on stage, hesitating over pronouncing the winner for Best Debut before simply saying “Kneecap” and skipping the director’s last name altogether.

David Tennant attends the 2025 British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre, London, Britain, February 16, 2025. REUTERS/Toby Melville TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Jesse Eisenberg, winning Best Original Screenplay for A Real Pain, cracked self-deprecating jokes about how neither he nor his wife expected him to win before delivering a heartfelt tribute to her: “You’ve put every worthwhile thought into my head over the last 20 years.”

Meanwhile, Warwick Davis was honored with the BAFTA Fellowship, giving an emotional speech that balanced humor and gratitude, dedicating the award to his late wife: “Since then, life has been pretty tough for me. But thanks to our wonderful children, I’ve been able to continue working and engaging in life.”

Looking Ahead to the Oscars

With the BAFTAs often seen as a precursor to the Oscars, Conclave, The Brutalist, and Anora have solidified their awards season momentum. However, Emilia Perez faces uncertainty following past controversies involving lead actress Karla Sofía Gascón.

Full List of BAFTA 2025 Winners:

Best Film – Conclave
Outstanding British Film – Conclave
Best Director – Brady Corbet, The Brutalist
Best Leading Actor – Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Best Leading Actress – Mikey Madison, Anora
Best Supporting Actor – Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Best Supporting Actress – Zoe Saldana, Emilia Perez
Best Adapted Screenplay – Conclave
Best Original Screenplay – A Real Pain
Best Film Not in English Language – Emilia Perez
Best Animated Film – Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Best Documentary – Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Best Original Score – The Brutalist
Best Children’s & Family Film – Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
BAFTA Fellowship – Warwick Davis
EE Rising Star Award – David Jonsson