The red carpet rolled out for the 78th British Academy Film Awards on 16 February 2025, and the night delivered its share of surprises and records. From Conclave’s sweep of the top prize to Irish flavour in the nominee list, this year’s ceremony offered plenty to discuss about the winners, the standout stats, and what it all means for the awards season ahead.
Ceremony date: 16 February 2025 ·
Most nominations (film): Conclave – 12 ·
Best Film winner: Conclave ·
Most BAFTA wins ever (film): The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – 11 ·
Host: David Tennant
Quick snapshot
- Conclave won Best Film at the 78th BAFTAs (Wikipedia (film awards database))
- Most nominations: Conclave with 12 (JustWatch Guides (streaming data aggregator))
- Brady Corbet won Best Director for The Brutalist (Wikipedia (film awards database))
- Mikey Madison won Best Actress for Anora (Wikipedia (film awards database))
- Which Irish actors are nominated for the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards – not yet announced (JustWatch Guides (streaming data aggregator))
- Exact date for 2026 BAFTA ceremony – TBA (JustWatch Guides (streaming data aggregator))
- How the new eligibility rules for Best Film reshaped the nominee finalists – BAFTA has not published detailed breakdowns (JustWatch Guides (streaming data aggregator))
- 15 January 2025: Nominations announced (Wonderland Magazine (culture & entertainment))
- 16 February 2025: Ceremony held at Royal Festival Hall (JustWatch Guides (streaming data aggregator))
- 79th BAFTA Film Awards expected in early 2026 – nominations likely January 2026
- Oscars on 2 March 2025 – BAFTA winners often influence Academy voting
Five key facts emerge from the 78th BAFTA ceremony, one pattern: the night belonged to films with strong narratives about institutions and outsiders. Conclave, a Vatican thriller, took the top prize, while The Brutalist and Anora claimed lead acting honours.
| Category | Winner | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Number of categories in 2025 | 25 (including new casting category) | JustWatch Guides (streaming data aggregator) |
| Best Film | Conclave | Wikipedia (film awards database) |
| Outstanding British Film | Conclave | Wikipedia (film awards database) |
| Best Director | Brady Corbet (The Brutalist) | Wikipedia (film awards database) |
| Best Actor | Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) | Wikipedia (film awards database) |
| Best Actress | Mikey Madison (Anora) | Wikipedia (film awards database) |
| Best Supporting Actress | Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) | JustWatch Guides (streaming data aggregator) |
| Best Leading Actor nominees | Adrien Brody, Timothée Chalamet, Colman Domingo, Ralph Fiennes, Hugh Grant, Sebastian Stan | JustWatch Guides (streaming data aggregator) |
| Best Leading Actress nominees | Mikey Madison, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Felicity Jones, Jamie Lee Curtis, Isabella Rossellini, Zoe Saldaña | JustWatch Guides (streaming data aggregator) |
| Rising Star nominees | Marisa Abela, Jharrel Jerome, David Jonsson, Mikey Madison, Nabhaan Rizwan | JustWatch Guides (streaming data aggregator) |
The implication: Conclave’s double win (Best Film and Outstanding British Film) signals BAFTA’s preference for politically charged period dramas over this year’s musicals and epics.
Who are the Irish BAFTA nominees for 2026?
The 2026 BAFTA Film and Television Awards have not yet been announced. However, the 78th ceremony (2025) already featured notable Irish representation. Kneecap, an Irish-language film about Belfast rappers, was nominated for Outstanding British Film and also earned a casting nomination for Carla Stronge (Wikipedia (film awards database)).
Irish representation at the 78th BAFTAs
- Kneecap – nominated in Outstanding British Film and Casting categories (Wikipedia (film awards database))
- Irish talent behind Conclave (directed by Edward Berger, produced by Tessa Ross and others) – not Irish-born but British/Irish co-production (JustWatch Guides (streaming data aggregator))
The pattern: Irish-language cinema is gaining BAFTA recognition, but the 2026 ceremony remains unknown.
Which film has won the most BAFTAs ever?
The record for most BAFTA wins by a single film remains with The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, which won 11 awards in 2004 (Wikipedia (film awards database)). No other film has matched that tally as of 2025.
Top 5 films with most BAFTA wins
- 1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – 11 wins
- 2. Slumdog Millionaire – 10 wins
- 3. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – 9 wins
- 4. Conclave – 4 wins (from 12 nominations) – not enough to break top 3
- 5. The Brutalist – 4 wins
The implication: Conclave’s 12 nominations but only 4 wins highlight the gap between nomination counts and actual victories – a pattern that separates BAFTA from other awards bodies.
Which film won the best picture award at the 78th British Academy Film Awards?
Conclave won Best Film at the 78th ceremony (Wikipedia (film awards database)). Directed by Edward Berger, the film beat four other nominees: Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, and Emilia Pérez (JustWatch Guides (streaming data aggregator)).
The trade-off: Conclave won both Best Film and Outstanding British Film – a rare double that earlier went to films like Slumdog Millionaire. But it lost Best Director to Brady Corbet, showing BAFTA’s willingness to split high-profile awards.
Which film received the most nominations at the 78th BAFTAs?
Conclave led with 12 nominations, followed by Emilia Pérez with 11, The Brutalist with 9, and then Anora, Dune: Part Two, and Wicked each with 7 (JustWatch Guides (streaming data aggregator)).
The catch: Despite leading nominations, Conclave won only 4 awards – a conversion rate of 33%. Emilia Pérez, with 11 nominations, took home 2 awards (Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Score).
What are the official nominations for the 78th British Academy Film Awards?
The full nominations were released on 15 January 2025 (Wonderland Magazine (culture & entertainment)). The ceremony featured 26 categories covering British and international cinema (JustWatch Guides (streaming data aggregator)).
Notable snubs and surprises
- Selena Gomez was nominated for Best Supporting Actress (Emilia Pérez) but the film missed Best Film.
- Wicked earned 7 nominations but won only 1 (Costume Design).
- Rising Star: Mikey Madison (winner of Best Actress) was also nominated for Rising Star – a rare simultaneous shortlist.
What this means: BAFTA’s new eligibility rules for Best Film and Outstanding British Film (introduced for 2025) likely impacted the nominee mix, favouring UK productions and co-productions over purely international projects.
Timeline of key 78th BAFTA events
- 2024–2025 – Eligibility period for 78th BAFTA Film Awards (JustWatch Guides (streaming data aggregator))
- 15 January 2025 – Nominations announced (Wonderland Magazine (culture & entertainment))
- 16 February 2025 – Ceremony held at Royal Festival Hall, London (JustWatch Guides (streaming data aggregator))
- January 2026 (expected) – Nominations for 79th BAFTA (Wikipedia (film awards database))
Conclave’s double win places it among BAFTA’s most celebrated recent films, but its 33% conversion rate from nominations suggests BAFTA voters spread the wealth. For Irish cinema fans, Kneecap’s nods prove that language diversity is gaining institutional traction.
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- 78th BAFTA Best Film winner: Conclave (Wikipedia (film awards database))
- Most nominations: Conclave with 12 (JustWatch Guides (streaming data aggregator))
- Most BAFTA wins ever: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (11) (Wikipedia (film awards database))
What’s unclear
- Which Irish actors are nominated for the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards – not yet announced
- Exact date for 2026 BAFTA ceremony
- How the new eligibility rules for Best Film reshaped the nominee finalists
Oscar voters are watching BAFTA’s lead actor and picture winners closely. Conclave’s double win makes it a serious Best Picture contender at the 2025 Oscars, while Brady Corbet’s Director win suggests The Brutalist will be a strong competitor for Best Director.
Kneecap’s Outstanding British Film nomination is a win for Irish-language cinema, yet the category itself – “British Film” – continues to generate debate about the inclusion of Northern Irish productions under the British umbrella.
For Irish audiences looking ahead, the 79th BAFTA nominations (expected January 2026) will reveal whether the momentum behind Kneecap and Irish-language films continues. The choice is clear: either BAFTA doubles down on diversity, or the Britishness filter tightens again.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between BAFTA Best Film and Outstanding British Film?
Best Film is open to any international release, while Outstanding British Film must meet UK cultural criteria (British subject matter, creative leadership, or production). Conclave won both in 2025.
How are BAFTA nominations decided?
BAFTA members vote in two rounds. The first round uses proportional representation to shortlist nominees; the second round determines winners. Categories like Rising Star are decided by public vote.
Can a film win both Best Film and Outstanding British Film?
Yes. Conclave did it in 2025, as did Slumdog Millionaire (2009) and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2018).
Who has the most BAFTA nominations of all time?
Meryl Streep holds the record with 16 BAFTA film nominations, followed by Judi Dench with 14. (Wikipedia (film awards database))
When will the 79th British Academy Film Awards take place?
Not yet confirmed, but historically BAFTA holds its film ceremony in February. Nominations are expected in January 2026.
Where can I watch the 78th BAFTA ceremony?
The ceremony was broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK. Replays and clips may be available on BBC iPlayer.
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Oliver Jack Carter Cooper is a staff writer for EveningLedger.uk, covering UK news, politics, business and culture. He works under Editor-in-Chief Edward Langley and Managing Editor Charlotte Reeves, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.