'Conclave' and 'The Brutalist' shared the BAFTAs, with both films receiving four prestigious awards each.

'Conclave,' directed by German-born Edward Berger, won the BAFTA for best film for its account of the intrigue and backroom dealing during the election of a new pope.

Accepting the award, Berger recalled that the road to making the film took seven years, crediting the "wonderful script" by British screenwriter Peter Stroggan and lead actor Ralph Fiennes.

American director Brady Corbett received the BAFTA for Best Director for 'The Brutalist', while lead actor Adrien Brody scooped the Best Actor award. His role is that of a Hungarian Holocaust survivor architect who emigrates to the United States.

Veteran British actor Fiennes, who played a cardinal in 'Conclave', was again left empty-handed, losing out to Brody in the race for the accolade.

The controversial 'Emilia Perez', a surreal musical about a Mexican drug dealer who turns into a woman, was heavily favoured at the start of the year but can boast just two BAFTAs, including one for Zoe Saldana for best supporting actress.

Until last month, French director Jacques Audiard's film was expected to be the frontrunner at the British Film Awards. However, in late January, old racist and Islamophobic tweets by lead actress Carla Sophia Gascon emerged, rocking the race just before the London ceremony and Oscars on March 2.

The surprise of the night was the BAFTA award for best actress, which went to 25-year-old Mikey Madison for her role as a sex worker in the black comedy 'Anora'.

Madison dedicated the award to the "sex worker community" and stressed that they deserve respect too.

Demi Moore, Timothée Chalamet and Ariana Grande attended the glamorous evening hosted by Doctor Who and Good Omens star David Tennant.

Best Supporting Actor went to Kieron Culkin for his role in True Grit, about Jewish American cousins who tour Poland in honor of their grandmother.

Zoe Saldana, who won a Golden Globe last month for her role as a sassy lawyer in 'Emilia Perez', dedicated her BAFTA award to her trans nephew.

'Conclave' also picked up awards for outstanding British film, editing and best adapted screenplay, while 'The Brutalist' won for cinematography and original score.

"Wicked" picked up two BAFTA awards, including for set design. 'Dune: Part Two' won BAFTAs for special visual effects and best sound.

To raucous applause from the audience 'Wallace and Gromit' picked up two BAFTAs - for Best Animated Feature and Best in the Children and Family Film category.

Although they often set the tone for the Oscars, the BAFTAs - the biggest night of the year for the British film industry - regularly run out of winners in Los Angeles, where the ceremony will be held on March 2. | BGNES, AFP