• Papal thriller Conclave wins Best Film and Best British Film at the BAFTAs
• The Brutalist equals Conclave's total with four awards including Best Director and Best Actor
• Best Actress award goes to Mikey Madison for her role in Anora
• Controversial film Emilia Pérez faces backlash but still takes home two awards
• BAFTAs serve as a precursor to the Oscars, predicting potential winners for March 2

The 78th British Academy Film Awards, held on February 16, showcased an exciting evening for film enthusiasts. The prestigious awards saw the papal thriller Conclave and the immigration drama The Brutalist achieving resounding success, each taking home four awards. Conclave, directed by Edward Berger, captured accolades for Best Film, Best British Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Editing. The film explores the intricate machinations of cardinal politics as they gather to elect a new pope, starring Ralph Fiennes in a pivotal role.

Equally impressive was The Brutalist, helmed by Brady Corbet. The film earned four awards too, with Corbet recognized as Best Director and Adrien Brody receiving the Best Actor award for his portrayal of a Hungarian-Jewish architect in postwar America. In his acceptance speech, Brody emphasized the film's profound message about shared humanity and respect for all individuals, asserting, “There’s no place any more for antisemitism; there’s no place for racism.”

In a surprising twist, Mikey Madison clinched the Best Actress award for her compelling performance in Anora, a tragicomedy about a New York stripper navigating a whirlwind romance. Her acceptance speech highlighted her solidarity with the sex worker community, stating, "You deserve respect and human decency," which resonated deeply with the audience.

Despite its controversies, the genre-bending musical Emilia Pérez made its mark by winning Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña and Best Film Not in the English Language, offering an engaging narrative on a drug lord's transition. Its lead actress, Karla Sofía Gascón, who faced backlash due to past controversial posts, did not attend the ceremony.

The BAFTAs, traditionally seen as predictors for the Oscars, have generated debate regarding front-runners for the upcoming Academy Awards on March 2. While films like Dune: Part Two and Wicked also gained recognition, this year's awards highlighted the diverse narratives being honored across categories.

The ceremony, hosted by David Tennant, brought together a kaleidoscope of stars, kicking off with a lively performance of the Proclaimers' anthem “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).” It was noted that this awards season has been unexpectedly challenging, lacking a singular film dominating the night, hinting at an unpredictable Oscars race ahead.

As the BAFTA week progresses, film aficionados continue to speculate on how the wins might influence the Oscars, with many believing that the competition remains exceptionally tight this year. For further details on winners and highlights from the night, check out the reports by BBC, HuffPost, Le Monde, India Times, and Channel News Asia.