Conclave emerged as the standout winner at the 2025 BAFTA Awards, securing the coveted Best Film title during the ceremony held at the Royal Festival Hall in London. This latest victory adds a significant chapter to an unpredictable awards season.
The film, directed by Edward Berger and featuring Ralph Fiennes, is a thriller centered on the election of a new pope. In addition to Best Film, it garnered three other awards: Best Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Outstanding British Film.
In the competition for Best Film, Conclave outperformed notable contenders including Anora, a dramedy by Sean Baker, and The Brutalist, directed by Brady Corbet. Anora tells the story of an exotic dancer marrying the son of a Russian oligarch, while The Brutalist follows a Jewish architect, played by Adrien Brody, as he rebuilds his life in the United States after the Holocaust.
This win is particularly striking given that Conclave had not been a frontrunner in previous award ceremonies, having only won a single Golden Globe for Best Screenplay. In contrast, Anora had gained momentum with major wins at the Critic’s Choice Awards and other ceremonies.
The BAFTA accolades are poised to enhance Conclave’s prospects at the upcoming Academy Awards on March 2, as the voting bodies for both events share considerable overlap. Historically, the BAFTAs and Oscars often align in their winners, making this victory crucial for Conclave’s Oscar campaign.
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