Conclave wins best picture at Baftas as The Brutalist takes directing and acting prizes

Papal thriller Conclave won four prizes including best picture on Sunday at the British Academy Film Awards (Baftas), where genre-bending musical Emilia Perez proved that it is still an awards contender despite a multipronged backlash that looked to have dented its chances.

The Brutalist equalled the awards tally of Conclave, scooping four trophies, including best director for Brady Corbet and best actor for Adrien Brody. Mikey Madison won the best actress prize for Brooklyn tragicomedy Anora.

Conclave, which stars Ralph Fiennes as a cardinal corralling conniving clergy as they elect a new pope, beat The Brutalist, Emilia Perez and Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown to the top prize. Conclave was also named outstanding British film and took trophies for editing and adapted screenplay.

Supporting performer prizes went to Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain and Zoe Saldana for Emilia Perez, which also won the award for best film not in the English language.

Saldana won for her role as a lawyer who helps the title character transition to a woman and out of a life of crime. She called the film “the creative challenge of a lifetime”.

Best actress nominee Karla Sofia Gascon, who stars as the titular transgender ex-cartel boss in Emilia Perez, was not at the ceremony. Gascon has withdrawn from promoting the film, which has 13 Oscar nominations, amid controversy over her social media posts disparaging Muslims, George Floyd and diversity at the Oscars.