Rich Peppiatt Claims Top BAFTA for ‘Kneecap’, Big Night for ‘Conclave’ and ‘The Brutalist’
In a celebration of cinematic excellence, Rich Peppiatt, director and co-writer of the critically acclaimed biopic Kneecap, took home the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer. The night also saw significant wins for acclaimed films Conclave and The Brutalist.
‘Kneecap’ Triumphs After IFTA Wins
Fresh off its impressive victory at the IFTA awards, Kneecap received six nominations at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. Despite narrowly missing out on categories such as Outstanding British Film, Best Film Not in the English Language, Original Screenplay, Editing, and Casting, Peppiatt’s dedication to the story of the Belfast rap trio paid off with a resounding win for his debut.
Accepting the award, Peppiatt expressed his gratitude: “Wow, I’m absolutely honoured to be standing here. Fifteen years ago today, I met my wife, and a decade later, she convinced me to move to Belfast. Within two weeks of moving there, I encountered Kneecap, and now I’m here. Life works in funny ways!”
Peppiatt continued, “Kneecap is more than a film; it’s a movement that celebrates language, culture, and homeland. This award is for everyone fighting that fight.”
Celebrating Cinematic Excellence: ‘Conclave’ and ‘The Brutalist’ Share Top Honours
On the same night, Conclave and The Brutalist shared the spotlight with four wins each. Conclave, directed by Uri Barabas, received critical acclaim for its portrayal of the papal election process. Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and Isabella Rossellini anchored the cast, with the film winning Best Film, Outstanding British Film, Adapted Screenplay, and Editing.
Watch: Conclave stars Stanley Tucci, Ralph Fiennes, and Isabella Rossellini talk to RTÉ Entertainment.
The Brutalist, set against the backdrop of post-war Europe, starred Adrien Brody in the lead role. The film scored wins for Best Director (Brady Corbet), Best Actor (Adrien Brody), Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score.
Watch: Adrien Brody tells RTÉ Entertainment about making The Brutalist.
Other Notable Winners
Among the other major winners was British actress Mikey Madison, who claimed the Best Leading Actress BAFTA for her role in Anora, a dark fairy tale 영화. The film also secured Best Casting, Sean Baker and Samantha Quan receiving the award.
Adrien Brody, one of the standout actors of the evening, received the Best Leading Actor BAFTA for his compelling performance in The Brutalist. Brady Corbet was honored for his work as director, while David Jonsson took home the Rising Star Award after garnering public votes for his acting debut.
Other noteworthy mentions include Wicked winning Best Costume Design and Best Production Design, while The Substance secured the Best Make-up & Hair award.
Box Office Success and Production Credits
The box office hit Kneecap was jointly produced by Belfast’s Fine Point Films, Dublin’s Wildcard Distribution, London’s Mother Tongues Films, and the British Film Institute (BFI). Key funding bodies for the film included Northern Ireland Screen, the Irish Language Broadcast Fund, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán, and TG4.
Complete List of BAFTA Winners
For those eager to delve deeper into the celebrations, here is the list of BAFTA winners for the evening:
- Best Film: Conclave
- Best Leading Actress: Mikey Madison, Anora
- Best Leading Actor: Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
- Best Director: Brady Corbet, The Brutalist
- Rising Star Award: David Jonsson
- Outstanding British Film: Conclave
- Best Costume Design: Wicked, Paul Tazewell
- Best Make-up & Hair: The Substance, Pierre Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon, Frédérique Arguello, Marilyne Scarselli
- Best British Short Animation: Wander to Wonder
- Best British Short Film: Rock, Paper, Scissors
- Best Documentary: Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
- Best Cinematography: The Brutalist, Lol Crawley
- Best Casting: Anora, Sean Baker, Samantha Quan
- Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez
- Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
- Best Animated Film: Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Conclave, Peter Straughan
- Best Original Screenplay: A Real Pain, Jesse Eisenberg
- Best Original Score: The Brutalist, Daniel Blumberg
- Best Editing: Conclave, Nick Emerson
- Best Sound: Dune: Part Two, Ron Bartlett, Doug Hemphill, Gareth John, Richard King
- Best Film Not in the English Language: Emilia Pérez
- Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer: Kneecap, Rich Peppiatt (director, writer)
- Best Production Design: Wicked, Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales
- Best Children’s & Family Film: Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
- Best Special Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two, Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Gerd Nefzer, Rhys Salcombe
For those who wish to explore more about the award-winning films and their creators, RTÉ Entertainment offers an extensive archive of movie news, reviews, and interviews.
Your Takeaway
The 2025 BAFTAs celebrated a rich array of talent and creativity, with individual and collaborative achievements earning well-deserved recognition. Films like Kneecap, Conclave, and The Brutalist not only entertained audiences but also paved the way for future nominations at the Oscars and beyond.
We invite you to comment below with your thoughts on the winners and your favorite moments from the night. Don’t forget to like and share with your movie-loving friends on social media! For the latest in movie news, subscribe to our newsletter and join us for upcoming updates.
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