Baftas 2025: ‘Conclave’ wins ‘Outstanding British Film’
Edward Berger’s Conclave has won the Bafta for ‘Outstanding British Film,’ beating a formidable list of nominees, including Steve McQueen’s Blitz, Andrea Arnold’s Bird, Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths, and Rich Peppiatt’s Kneecap. It was the only film this year to be nominated for both ‘Best British Film’ and ‘Best Film.’
Based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Robert Harris, Conclave is set in the Vatican and follows Ralph Fiennes’s Cardinal Lawrence, the church official tasked with facilitating the voting for a new pope. As cardinals from around the world gather for a conclave, their visions for the future clash and explosive secrets are revealed that throw the process into chaos.
During his acceptance speech, Berger took direct aim at current events. “We live in a crisis of democracy,” he said.
“Institutions that used to bring us together are bringing us apart, and sometimes it’s hard to keep the faith in that situation, but that’s why we make movies and that’s why we made this movie.,” he continued. “Thank you very much. There’s a crack in everything but thats how the light gets in.”
The film had the most Bafta nominations of any movie this year, earning 12, including for ‘Best Director’ for Berger, ‘Best Actor’ for Fiennes, and ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for Isabella Rossellini, who plays a nun who has a pivotal, if brief, role in the proceedings. It has already won for editing and adapted screenplay.
Berger’s previous film, 2022’s All Quiet on the Western Front, was even more of a favourite, earning 14 Bafta nominations and coming away with ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Film.’
Conclave is nominated for eight Academy Awards and is considered a frontrunner for the ‘Best Picture’ Oscar next month.
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