The 2025 BAFTA Awards Present Conclave with Top Honours, Mikey Madison Wins Best Actress
Edward Berger’s Vatican-set thriller, Conclave, took home four awards at the Bafta ceremony, including best picture and outstanding British film. The film, which stars Ralph Fiennes as a cardinal overseeing the election of a new pope, also won awards for adapted screenplay and editing.
A papal conclave is a gathering of cardinals in the Catholic Church to elect a new Pope.
The process begins with the death or resignation of the previous Pope, triggering a period of sede vacante.
A general congregation of cardinals convenes and establishes a group of 15-20 cardinals who will participate in the conclave.
They are sealed within the Sistine Chapel and take turns casting ballots until a candidate reaches two-thirds majority.
The conclave is secret, with only the cardinal's name being revealed after the election.
Conclave Wins Big at Baftas 2025
Berger’s speech after accepting the award for outstanding British film was a poignant reflection on the state of democracy in today’s world. He said, ‘We live in a time of a crisis of democracy. Institutions used to bringing us together are used to pull us apart. Sometimes it’s hard to keep the faith, and that’s why we make movies.‘ Berger ended his speech by quoting Leonard Cohen: ‘There’s a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.‘
The Brutalist also Wins Four Awards
Brady Corbet‘s epic drama, The Brutalist, was another big winner at the Baftas 2025. The film won awards for best director, leading actor (Adrien Brody), cinematography, and score. In his speech, Brody thanked the British public for embracing him and his creative endeavors.
Mikey Madison Wins Best Actress
In a surprise upset, Mikey Madison took home the award for best actress for her role in Anora. Madison played an exotic dancer who begins a romance with the son of a Russian oligarch. In her acceptance speech, she gave a shout-out to the ‘sex worker community,’ saying, ‘I see you, you deserve respect and human decency. I will always be a friend and an ally and I implore others to do the same.‘
Mikey Madison is an American actress, born on May 25, 1995.
She gained recognition for her roles in the TV series 'Better Things' and 'Animal Kingdom'.
Madison's breakthrough role came when she played the character 'Travis Tatum' in the FX television series 'Better Things', created by Pamela Adlon.
Her portrayal of a teenager with autism earned her critical acclaim.
Emilia Pérez‘s Musical Takes Two Awards
Despite the ongoing controversy surrounding its star, Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez‘s musical about a Mexican cartel leader who transitions while escaping the mob took two awards at the Baftas 2025. The film won awards for best film not in the English language and supporting actress (Zoe Saldaña).
Other Notable Winners
Aardman‘s Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl won the animation award, as well as the inaugural family film award. Rich Peppiatt won the outstanding debut by a British director award for his semi-fictionalized rap biopic Kneecap. Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story took home the best documentary award.
The Ceremony
The Bafta ceremony was hosted by David Tennant, who opened proceedings with a rousing version of I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles). The evening’s most emotional speech was delivered by Warwick Davis, who received the Bafta fellowship and paid tribute to his late wife.
Warwick Davis is a British actor, director, and producer who has been active in the film industry since the early 1980s.
Born on February 3, 1970, in Epsom, Surrey, England, Davis was diagnosed with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a rare genetic disorder that affects his height.
He stands at 1.20 meters (3 ft 11 in) tall.
Davis gained recognition for his role as Willow Ufgood in the 1988 film 'Willow.' He has since appeared in numerous films and television shows, including the 'Harry Potter' series, 'Star Wars,' and 'Leprechaun.'
