Conclave has taken the top prize at this year’s BAFTA film awards, winning best film as well as outstanding British film.
Based on Robert Harris’s 2016 novel of the same name, and centred around the selection of a new pope, the movie also won best adapted screenplay and best editing.
Thanking his ensemble cast as he accepted the award, director Edward Berger said: “What you did to me on set when I watched you was pure magic, it was beyond my grasp or understanding.”
It’s not the first BAFTA success for the filmmaker, who swept the board two years ago with his remake of All Quiet On The Western Front, taking seven prizes.
Despite being the most nominated movie of the night, Conclave did not take any of the acting prizes, with its star Ralph Fiennes losing out to The Brutalist lead Adrien Brody in best actor.
Brody’s portrayal of Hungarian architect Lazlo Toth making his way in America after World War II saw the 51-year-old actor bag his first BAFTA statuette.
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New York-born Brody said the gong was “incredibly meaningful”, adding: “England has felt quite a bit like home lately.”
The three-and-a-half-hour-long epic also took best director, best original score and best cinematography.
Accepting his director award, Brady Corbet, told the audience that despite being “humbled” and “grateful” for his win, there really was “no such thing” as best director.
Conclave and The Brutalist were joint-winners across the night, taking four gongs each.
Image: Ralph Fiennes. Pic: Reuters
Anora, about a Brooklyn sex worker who marries into money, saw its break-out lead star, Mikey Madison take the top prize, after many had forecast a win for Demi Moore.
Accepting her award, the 25-year-old actress took her moment on the stage to honour the sex worker community, who she said had helped her immeasurably in her preparation for the role, telling them: “I see you. You deserve respect and human decency. I will always be a friend and an ally.”
Anora also took the casting prize.
Emilia Perez, which has come under fire in recent weeks following resurfaced tweets from its lead star Karla Sofia Gascon, took best film not in the English language. Gascon was not at the event.
An emotional Zoe Saldaña, took best supporting actress for her outstanding performance in the musical – in which she acts, sings and dances – telling the audience her win was “so validating” and “a true honour”.
Image: Zoe Saldana was named best supporting actress for her performance in Emilia Perez. Pic: PA
As she accepted her prize the 46-year-old star said: “I was told not to cry by my children, so I’m going to try. This is so validating because the very few times I tried to go for roles with a British accent I was told this isn’t going to happen.”
She ended her emotional speech by saying: “Films are supposed to change hearts and challenge minds and I hope Emilia Perez did something like this, because voices need to be heard, just not my English accent.”
Saldana, who won in the same category at the Golden Globes last month will be hoping to follow up her success with an Oscar in March.
An early front-runner in awards season, mostly Spanish language movie Emilia Perez had already been under fire from parts of the trans community for what some considered to be a retrograde step in representation, as well as those who objected to stereotypical depictions of Mexicans, as well as its handling of the sensitive topic of narcotics crime, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
Image: Jesse Eisenberg won the BAFTA for best original screenplay for A Real Pain. Pic: PA
Kieran Culkin, 42, won best supporting actor for his role in comedy A Real Pain, with his co-star and the film’s writer Jesse Eisenberg accepting the gong on his behalf due to a member of Culkin’s family being unwell, meaning he was in New York to be by their side.
The movie, about two cousins revisiting their family history in Poland, also took best original screenplay.
Body horror The Substance took a well-deserved win for best makeup and hair, despite Moore missing out on the best actress win.
Back to host for a second year running, Scottish actor David Tennant opened the show singing The Proclaimers’ I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).
Image: David Tennant arrives for the BAFTAs
With 42 gongs to hand out, from a host of star presenters, the first awards of the night went to Dune: Part Two which took special visual effects.
Elsewhere, Wallace And Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl bagged best children’s and family film as well a best animated feature.
Accepting his second prize, Aardman director Nick Park joked: “I didn’t actually write a second speech.”
The music biopic about Mo Chara, Moglai Bap and DJ Provai (who wore his trademark balaclava in the colours of the Irish flag on the red carpet) had been up for six BAFTAs, despite missing out on making it to the Oscars shortlist last month.
Image: Kneecap on the red carpet. Pic: PA
While it was up for seven awards, BAFTA voters didn’t seem to be feeling too much of the Wicked magic, with the Wizard Of Oz prequel taking two prizes, best production design and best costume design.
Meanwhile, Dune: Dune Part Two performed well in the technical categories, winning best sound and best visual effects.
Despite being up for six awards, A Complete Unknown, went home empty handed.
Lack of gongs aside, the movie’s star Timothée Chalamet still managed to cause plenty of buzz on the night, thanks to the fact he was accompanied to the ceremony with his girlfriend Kylie Jenner, who is part of the Kardashian clan.
In a pre-announced win, British star Warwick Davis, best known for fantasy film Willow and the Harry Potter movies, was awarded the prestigious BAFTA film fellowship for both his performing and advocacy work.
Image: Jeff Goldblum impressed with his musical skills on the night. Pic: PA
The In Memoriam section of the night was led by Wicked star Jeff Goldblum playing As Time Goes By on the piano as late stars including Dame Maggie Smith, David Lynch and Dame Joan Plowright were honoured.
Alien Romulus star David Jonsson won the only publicly voted award of the night, the rising star, celebrating up and coming talent.
And in a balloon-filled performance, Take That’s current line up of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen performed their hit Greatest Day, which features heavily in Anora.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Neighbours has been axed for a second time, just two years after Amazon threw the Australian soap a lifeline.
A statement on the programme’s social media accounts confirmed the final episode of the 40-year series would air in December 2025.
The show follows the lives of the residents of Erinsborough, a fictional suburb of Melbourne, with famous former alumni including Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Margot Robbie.
Executive producer Jason Herbison said: “Audiences all around the world have loved and embraced Neighbours for four decades and we are very proud of the huge success over the last two years including often appearing as one of the Top 10 titles in the UK and the show’s first ever Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Daytime Series in 2024.
“As this chapter closes, we appreciate and thank Amazon MGM Studios for all that they have done for Neighbours – bringing this iconic and much-loved series to new audiences globally.
“We value how much the fans love Neighbours and we believe there are more stories of the residents of Ramsay Street to tell in the future.”
Image: Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan returned for the first series finale. Photo by Fremantle Media/Shutterstock
It is the second time the show has been cancelled, after it was first axed by Channel 5 in the UK after it failed to secure new funding.
But a few months after what was meant to be its final episode, the series was revivedby streaming giant Amazon Freeve and Freemantle.
The show is available online in the UK and on Channel 10 in Australia.
Channel 10 said on X: “They’ve been our neighbours for almost 40 years, we’re so sad to be saying goodbye. We’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to this remarkable Australian story over the years.”
Dad was a showman with great charisma, but he never lost sight of the fact that an interview is about the guest, not the host.
That is made clear when you review the 10,000+ interviews he did, as I have done over the last decade since he left us.
That theme has been central to the series, David Frost Vs.
Image: David Frost with Muhammad Ali. Pic: David Paradine Productions Ltd
Image: Elton John and David Frost in New York in 1978. Pic: Adam Scull/Shutterstock
Image: John Lennon and Yoko Ono with Sir David. Pic: ITV/Shutterstock
Six individual films about crucial moments in our recent history, that are still relevant and resonant today, where Dad just happened to have a front row seat, not six films specifically about Dad.
His extraordinarily revealing interviews with the likes of The Beatles, Yoko Ono, Muhammad Ali, Jane Fonda, Elton John and Richard Nixon are in part so revealing because they were given time to breathe.
Image: Jane Fonda being interviewed by David Frost. Pic: David Paradine Productions Ltd
Image: David Frost with George Harrison and John Lennon in 1967. Pic: ITV/Shutterstock
Long-form is critical to have a chance of delivering the era-defining conversations that stand the test of time as he did so often. But it takes much more than that. These conversations are deeply personal.
I think our films will reveal more than expected about the people and topics we explore because you really feel the words being spoken.
Dad understood live television better than anyone and when it came to interviewing, both his guests and his viewers are drawn in because what drove him was a genuine curiosity about people.
Image: Sky’s Wilfred Frost interviewing Sir Keir Starmer last year
Image: David Frost with his wife Lady Carina and Wilfred as they left St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington on 19 August 1985. Pic: PA
He never entered an interview with an agenda. He was interested in the person in front of him and what they had to say.
But I don’t think that is something you can teach or learn. He just genuinely loved people.
David Frost Vs is coming soon to Sky Documentaries.
Creative control of the long-running James Bond franchise has been handed to Amazon MGM Studios, in a joint venture with the current owners.
Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson – who are the daughter and stepson of film producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, the man responsible for developing the Bond franchise into the success it is today – will remain co-owners of 007 intellectual property rights.
The pair own EON Productions, the company behind Bond films including Skyfall and Spectre. It has produced 25 films since 1962.
Image: Craig played Bond for a fifth and final time in No Time To Die. Pic: MGM
The deal follows speculation over when the next Bond movie – and indeed the next Bond – will be announced.
The last film, No Time To Die, was delivered four years ago to rave reviews and box office success. It was the swansong for Daniel Craig in his performance of the lady-loving spy.
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Details of the 26th official Bond film – and its new star – are yet to be revealed.
In a statement on EON Productions website, Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios said they were “honoured to continue this treasured heritage” and looked forward to “ushering in the next phase of the legendary 007 for audiences around the world”.
Wilson said that after 60 years spent working across the franchise, he would now be focusing on “art and charitable projects”.
Image: Brian Cox and Barbara Broccoli on the 007: Road To A Million red carpet. Pic: Ian West
Barbara Broccoli said: “My life has been dedicated to maintaining and building upon the extraordinary legacy that was handed to Michael and me by our father, producer Cubby Broccoli.
“I have had the honour of working closely with four of the tremendously talented actors who have played 007 and thousands of wonderful artists within the industry. With the conclusion of No Time To Die and Michael retiring from the films, I feel it is time to focus on my other projects.”
In 2022, Amazon bought MGM Studios, which distributes Bond, for $8.45bn (£6.79bn).
Since the acquisition, the streamer has held the rights to distribute all the Bond movies.
Image: Cox as The Controller in 007’s Road To A Million. Pic: Amazon Prime Video
In the spring of 2023, Amazon Prime Video launched Bond-themed reality show, 007 Road To A Million.
Hosted by Succession star Brian Cox, it offered nine pairs of contestants the chance to win £1m as they travelled through global locations associated with the franchise.
While no one took home the full £1m jackpot, brothers James and Joey did take £150,000. The show was met with a mixed critical reception but was given the green light for a second season.