Claymation charmer Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl may have been pipped to Best British Film, but did emerge from the night with some recognition, taking home the prize for Best Children's & Family Film, as well as Best Animated Film.
Conclave, a political thriller surrounding the choosing of a new pope, won the top prize, Best Film, as well as Best British Film, while The Brutalist, Brady Corbet’s three-and-a-half-hour epic about a Hungarian architect (Adrien Brody) who immigrates to the US, won in directing and acting categories.
The film’s director, Jacques Audiard, thanked Gascón in his speech accepting the award for Best Film Not in the English Language, remarking: “I also thank you Karla Sofía, who I kiss.” The French filmmaker had previously distanced himself from Gascón following the controversy, describing the controversial tweets as “hateful”.
Those hoping for irreverent Irish rap biopic Kneepcap to seize an unlikely win for Best British Film may have left disappointed, but the celebrated film did earn an award for writer-director Rich Peppiatt, who took home the statuette for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.
While Emilia Perez did miss out on nine of the 11 Bafta awards it was nominated for, it emerged victorious in both the international film category and Best Supporting Actress, with Zoe Saldaña winning the latter category over co-star Selena Gomez.
