If you follow the Oscar race, BAFTA is a big deal. Last year, BAFTA members made up around half (325) of the UK Academy voters (650). There has definitely been a rise in the number of international voters in the Oscar race, but the UK bloc is the largest.
With that said, it makes sense that Edward Berger’s “Conclave,” a British production, was named Best Film by the BAFTAs, but don’t mistake this win as any kind of indication that Berger’s film is now destined for Oscar gold. I still believe Best Picture is Anora’s to lose.
Despite the “Conclave” win, Adrien Brody (“The Brutalist”) still won Best Actor over Ralph Fiennes. Brady Corbet (“The Brutalist”) still won Best Director over Edward Berger. If “Anora” hadn’t just come off a weekend where it won the PGA and DGA, you’d think the Best Picture Oscar was a two-way race between “The Brutalist” and “Conclave.”
Speaking of “Anora,” at least Mikey Madison won Best Actress; her fiercest competition for Oscar gold will likely be Demi Moore (“The Substance”). Fernanda Torres (“I’m Still Here”) is the clearcut dark horse in the category. Their fellow nominee, Karla Sofia Gascón, now a distant fourth place, did not show up to the BAFTA ceremony, and might not even attend the Oscars.
Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Perez,” which stars Gascón, won Best Film Not in English, and while accepting the award, Audiard gave a heartfelt shout out to the controversial actress. Meanwhile, Zoe Saldana won Supporting Actress for her work in “Emilia Perez,” and unless a major upset occurs on March 2, she will also win the Oscar.
Meanwhile, Kieran Culkin continues to sweep all of the trophies this awards season. His performance in “A Real Pain” won the BAFTA for Supporting Actor; how many wins is that now for Culkin? Golden Globe, NYFCC, LAFCA, NBR, and Critics Choice. He’ll probably win SAG next week, and then Oscar.
As much as pundits like to point out BAFTA as a major precursor, which I don’t deny that it is, it should be noted that only 10 of the last 25 BAFTA winners in the Best Film category have gone on to win the Best Picture Oscar. “Anora” currently has nothing to worry about.
Best Film
“Conclave”Best Documentary
“Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story”Best Director
Brady Corbet (“The Brutalist”)Best Actor in a Leading Role
Adrien Brody (“The Brutalist”)Best Actress in a Leading Role
Mikey Madison (“Anora”)Best Film Not in the English Language
“Emilia Pérez”Best Original Score
“The Brutalist” – Daniel BlumbergBest Original Screenplay
“A Real Pain” – Jesse EisenbergBest Adapted Screenplay
“Conclave” – Peter StraughanBest Animated Film
“Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl”Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Kieran Culkin (“A Real Pain”)Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Zoe Saldaña (“Emilia Pérez”)Best Editing
“Conclave” – Nick EmersonBest Cinematography
“The Brutalist”Best Special Visual Effects
“Dune: Part Two”