The German language film All Quiet On The Western Front was the big winner at the EE Bafta Film Awards, winning a total of seven awards.
The Netflix anti-war epic directed by German filmmaker Edward Berger and based on the 1929 novel of the same name by Erich Maria Remarque received top gongs including best picture and best director.
It broke the record for the highest number of Baftas for a foreign language film previously held by Italian coming-of-age drama Cinema Paradiso, which won five in 1988.
At the climax of the event at London’s Royal Festival Hall, cinematographer James Friend took the stage and said the film showed how a generation of young German men had been “poisoned by right-wing nationalist propaganda” and stressed that the film’s message remained “timely”. “Almost a century later.
Paying tribute to the fighters in Ukraine, Berger told the audience that he was able to overcome his “doubts” thanks to his daughter Matilda, who encouraged him to film the book she was reading at school.
(PA graphic)
It was a disappointing night for The Banshees Of Inisherin who had 10 nominations but only walked away with four wins.
However, these included Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress respectively for Irish stars Barry Keoghan and Kerry Condon.
Baz Luhrmann’s biopic Elvis also secured four wins, with its star Austin Butler beating favorite Colin Farrell in a shock voting academy decision for best actor.
Colin Farrell (Ian West/PA)
Farrell, who took on the lead role in the dark comedy Banshees, had fought for his first leading man, Bafta, in his 25-year career.
Accepting the award onstage, Butler thanked the Presley family for their involvement in the film, saying, “I can’t thank you enough for your love … it means the world to me.”
Everything Everywhere All At Once had an even more disappointing night, securing just one Bafta – for Best Editing – out of 10 nominations.
It was also a lackluster night for British veterans behind the scenes.
(PA graphic)
Sir Roger Deakins missed out on best cinematography for Empire Of Light, while Jenny Beavan failed to secure the gong for costume design for Mrs Harris Goes To Paris.
Bill Nighy lost to Butler in the Lead Actor category for his performance in Living.
The Bafta for Leading Actress went to Cate Blanchett for her role as a conductor who faced misconduct and psychological distress in Tar.
Cate Blanchett (Ian West/PA)
She tearfully accepted the award as she thanked her mother and her director, Todd Field, adding that 2022 had been an “extraordinary year for women.”
The Australian actress said the past 12 months have shattered the notion that women’s experiences are not “monolithic”, adding that her role as Lydia Tar is “a dangerous and potentially career-ending endeavour”.
Last year’s Rising Star winner, No Time To Die actress Lashana Lynch, presented this year’s trophy to Emma Mackey.
Mackey was encouraged onto the stage by her smiling Sex Education co-star Aimee Lou Wood, who also received a nomination in the category.
Emma Mackey poses with the EE Rising Star Award (Ian West/PA)
Earlier in the night, Carey Mulligan was mistakenly announced as the winner of the Supporting Actor Award after a translation error, while deaf actor Troy Kotsur presented.
Oscar winner Kotsur made the announcement via sign language, before a communications error resulted in Mulligan’s name being used for her appearance in She Said.
The announcer quickly corrected himself and said Condon was the winner for Banshees of Inisherin.
Onstage, Condon paid tribute to her director, McDonagh, adding, “Thank you for all the roles you’ve given me throughout my career. You make me so proud to be Irish.”
She also thanked the “amazing cast” and their family, along with their horses and dogs.
Ceremony host Richard E Grant later joked that he had a defibrillator on for Mulligan after her name was called and then changed.
Richard E. Grant (Ian West/PA)
The error did not surface in the final program on BBC One, which aired shortly after the ceremony up until the final four awards shows.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy won the Bafta for Best British Short Animated Film.
Mackesy praised those involved in adapting his illustrated book and saluted those who strive to be “kind” and “brave” in life.
Best Costume Design went to Catherine Martin for the biopic Elvis, with her husband, the film’s director Baz Luhrmann, taking her place.
The Bafta for Documentaries went to Navalny, while Pinocchio by Guillermo del Toro won the Bafta for Animated Films.
Jamie Lee Curtis and Anya Taylor-Joy bring Charlotte Wells to Aftersun, the outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer.
Singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading also made a surprise appearance on stage alongside Little Simz.
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