Baftas 2024 - as it happened: Oppenheimer wins big at star-studded movie awards ceremony
Host David Tennant led the high-profile event honouring the best films, actors and directors of the past year
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The Baftas 2024 have taken place, with the biggest film stars in the world in attendance at a ceremony that honoured the best movies and actors of the last year.
Hollywood actors, including Emma Stone, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, were present at the ceremony, which took place at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday (18 February).
The winners were named exactly one month after the nominated films, actors, directors and writers were revealed by former EE Rising Star nominees Naomi Ackie and Kingsley Ben-Adir during a live press conference.
This year’s Baftas, which aired on BBC One, were presented by actor David Tennant. This marked the Scottish actor’s first TV appearance since returning for a series of Doctor Who specials in 2023.
Films in contention at this year’s ceremony included Oppenheimer, which swept the board at both the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards earlier this month, as well as its rival blockbuster Barbie, Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon and Poor Things, starring Stone.
Find all of the Bafta 2024 updates – as they happened – below
The eening’s most important win
Best Documentary went to 20 Days in Mariupol, a film documenting Russia’s invasion of the country over the past year.
It was easily the most important win of the night, which came one year after victory for Navalny, a documentary about the activist Alexei Navalny who died earlier this week in a Russian prison.
“This is not about us – this is about Ukraine, about the people of Mariupol. I want to keep focus on that. The day before yesterday another Ukrainian city has fallen – Russia has occupeid it, and many cities before that, so the story of Mariupol is a symbol of everything that happened, and a symbol of struggle and a symbol of faith. Thank you for empowering our voice. Let’s just keep fighting.
Baftas 2024 winner on how the film industry can be more ‘accessible’
Three years after an all-white lineup of actors was nominated at the Baftas, this year’s group was more diverse.
The Independent chatted to stars on the 2024 red carpet on Sunday (18 February) about their thoughts on diversity, and if awards ceremonies need to go further.
Baftas 2024 winner tells The Independent how film industry can be more ‘accessible’
Three years after an all-white lineup of actors was nominated at the Baftas, this year’s group is more diverse. In 2020, the awards ceremony failed to recognise a single non-white actor in its nominations, prompting #BaftasSoWhite to trend on Twitter. At the time, Bafta CEO Amanda Berry said: “The lack of diversity in today’s nominations is hugely disappointing to see... Our year round activity has many strands that focus on diversity.” The Independent chatted to stars on the 2024 red carpet on Sunday (18 February) about their thoughts on diversity, and if awards ceremonies need to go further.
Winners list in full
The full list of Bafta 2024 winners
The best movies, actors and directors of the year set to be announced in London
Four-star review of the Baftas 2024
“The Baftas is a necessary reminder, to British audiences, of the existence of films outside of the Marvel world or the Star Wars universe,” writes Nick Hilton.
“It is important that 2023 (a fantastically strong year for cinema, in the context of the past decade) is remembered for more than just Barbenheimer and Barry Keoghan’s penis. The Baftas this year were a great indication of that. It may all feel a bit neat and sanitised – and admittedly, much is lost by stripping out the live dimension – but for an industry that needs eyeballs, this was an ideal advertisement.”
The Baftas were a joyful reminder that 2023 was more than just Barbenheimer – review
In its current form, broadcast two hours after the actual ceremony, the Baftas is a strange beast – but one that host David Tennant mostly manages to tame
Hugh Grant is a grumpy Oompa-Loompa at the Baftas
Everyone’s favourite awards-hater Hugh Grant made a characteristically curmudgeonly (and hilarious) appearance as presenter of Best Director...
Hugh Grant channels Oompa-Loompa as he presents Baftas 2024 award
Hugh Grant channeled hisWonka character, an Oompa-Loompa, as he presented the 2024 Bafta for best director at Sunday’s (18 February) ceremony. The actor, 63, starred in the iconic role alongside Timothee Chalamet in Paul King’s musical. He presented the category by using lines from one of the songs from the film, “Oompa Loompa”, drawing laughs from the audience. Grant also appeared to poke fun at his previous blunt responses, saying: “Oompa Loompa doompity-dong, most of these films were frankly too long. Oompa Loompa doompity-dah, but for some reason the nominees are.”
‘Mr Swallow was ringingly unfunny,’ was the general consensus on Twitter/X
The evening wasn’t without its hiccups – with a poorly received Mr Swallows skit from Ted Lasso star Nick Mohammed putting a bit of a damper on things...
Bafta viewers cringe as Mr Swallow skit leaves crowd looking confused
‘What was the point of that?’ asked one baffled viewer on Twitter/x
What were Vera Wang’s favourite red carpet looks?
Vera Wang revealed her favourite red carpet looks from the 2024 Baftas in an exclusive interview with The Independent.
Exclusive: Vera Wang reveals favourite Bafta looks from the red carpet
Vera Wang revealed her favourite red carpet looks from the 2024 Baftas in an exclusive interview with The Independent. The legendary fashion designer, 74, wore a black and white tank dress as she joined celebrities on the carpet ahead of the ceremony on London's Southbank. Wang praised best actress nominee Carey Mulligan's iconic Dior dress as one of the standout looks of the night. On Instagram the Maestro star's stylist labelled her dress as Christian Dior 1951, suggesting it was either the original from the 1950s or a modern recreation.
Michael J Fox receives a standing ovation
Michael J Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991, received a standing ovation at the 2024 Baftas as he presented the award for best actor.
The Back to the Future actor, 62, stood up from his wheelchair to give the award to Oppenheimer‘s stars, as ceremony attendees gave him a huge round of applause.
Michael J Fox receives standing ovation as he presents Baftas 2024 award
Michael J Fox received a standing ovation at the 2024 Baftas as he presented the award for best actor at Sunday's (18 February) ceremony. The Back to the Future actor, 62, stood up from his wheelchair to give the award to Oppenheimer's stars, as ceremony attendees gave him a huge round of applause. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1991. An Apple TV+ documentary exploring his career and his life with the disease was nominated for a Bafta. "There's a reason why they say movies are magic, because movies can change your day. They can change your outlook, and sometimes even your life," Fox said on the Baftas stage.
A family affair...
Emily Blunt brought a special date to the 2024 Bafta Awards – her parents.
The actor, who had been nominated for her performance in Oppenheimer for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, arrived on the red carpet with her parents, Joanna and Oliver Blunt.
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