The 2021Bafta Film Awardhave finally arrived. Much like the rest of the entertainment world, the event was forced to be pushed back by several months due to the ongoing global circumstances, but now, the results are in, with director Chloé Zhao winning big for her meditative drama,Nomadland. The event, which was held at the Royal Albert Hall with nominees attending virtually, took place over two days, and saw several high-profile names take up presenting duties including the likes of James McAvoy, David Oyelowo, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Pedro Pascal, Richard E Grant, Cynthia Erivo and Hugh Grant.
Nomadland, which tells the story of a woman who, after losing everything in the Great Recession, embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad, was awarded both Best Film, Best Director and Best Leading Actress for star Frances McDormand. Notably, Chloé Zhao is only the second woman to win the award for Best Director in the 53 years of the category’s history. The likes of Shannon Murphy (Babyteeth), Sarah Gavron (Rocks), and Jasmila Zbanic (Quo Vadis, Aida?) were also nominated for the award.
Sir Anthony Hopkins won best actor forThe Father, taking home the award some 27 years after his last competitive Bafta win. Hopkins stars as the titular father, who refuses all assistance from his daughter as he ages, and tries to make sense of his changing circumstances, doubting his loved ones, his own mind and even the fabric of his reality. The 83-year-old revealed that he was not actually watching Sunday’s ceremony and only found out he’d won when he heard cheering coming from the next room. “I was sitting here painting, and I heard this cheer go off next door,” Hopkins said after the ceremony. “I thought, what the hell’s happened? I thought they were watching a football match. And they came in and said I’d won.”
Daniel Kaluuya walked away with the award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal ofreal-life revolutionary Fred Hamptonin director Shaka King’s biographical dramaJudas and the Black Messiah, with Yuh-Jung Youn taking home the prize for Best Supporting Actress for her critically acclaimed work inMinari. Youn was honored to receive the ward, especially considering the “snobbish” attitude of the British; “Every award is meaningful, but this one especially recognised by British people, known as very snobbish people, and they approved me as a good actor so I’m very, very privileged,” she said.
Promising Young Woman, which tell the story of a young woman, played by Carey Mulligan,traumatized by a tragic event in her past, who seeks out vengeance against those who crossed her path was awarded the Bafta for Outstanding British Film, and beat out the likes ofThe Mauritanian,The Dig, andThe Father.Promising Young Womanhas been doing exceptionally well this awards season, with writer and director Emerald Fennell also walking away with the Bafta for Best Original Screenplay. Fennell described makingcriticisms last year aimed at the diversityof the shortlist for the Bafta nominees, this year’s event featured a much more diverse line-up of talent, with several of the acting contenders coming from minority backgrounds.
you’re able to see the full list of nominees and winners below:
