‘It’s more than a film’: Director Rich Peppiatt on the cultural phenomenon that is Kneecap
The 2025 British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards—or BAFTAs—took place over in London last night, with Belfast-based rap trio Kneecap and Saoirse Ronan amongst this year’s invited guests.
A thoroughly glitzy affair, the ceremony took place at the Royal Festival Hall with everyone from Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner to Sebastian Stan, Ariana Grande and Adrien Brody making an appearance.
Conclave and The Brutalist were two of the top winners this year, each taking home four gongs – the former for best picture, outstanding British film, adapted screenplay and editing, while the latter got the gold in best director, leading actor, cinematography and score. Thanking the British public for embracing him and his “creative endeavours”, Brody is one of the front-runners vying for a win at the Oscars next month.
Also nominated on the night were Kneecap, with director Rich Peppiatt beating out stiff competition to take home Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer. Accepting his award from Selena Gomez and Zoë Saldaña, stars of Emilia Pérez, Peppiatt described the project as “more than a film”. “It’s a movement and it’s about how everyone should have their language respected, they should have their culture respected, and they should have their homeland respected. And so this award is dedicated to everyone who’s out there fighting that fight.”
Kneecap also led the charge at Friday night’s IFTA ceremony in Dublin, winning four awards including best costume design, editing and casting as well as best director for Peppiatt who revealed it was actually the second-best thing to happen to him as he had received his Irish citizenship earlier that same day.
From rising star to best original score, casting and costume design, see the full list of BAFTA 2025 winners below.
Adapted screenplay
Conclave
Animated film
Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Best film
Conclave
British short animation
Wander to Wonder
British short film
Rock, Paper, Scissors
Casting
Anora
Children’s & family film
Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Cinematography
The Brutalist
Costume design
Wicked
Director
The Brutalist
Documentary
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Editing
Conclave
EE Rising Star Award
David Jonsson
Fellowship
Warwick Davis
Film not in the English language
Emilia Pérez
Leading actor
Adrien Brody
Leading actress
Mikey Madison
Makeup & hair
The Substance
Original score
The Brutalist
Original screenplay
A Real Pain
Outstanding British contribution to cinema
Medicinema
Outstanding British film
Conclave
Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer
Kneecap
Production design
Wicked
Sound
Dune: Part Two
Special visual effects
Dune: Part Two
Supporting actor
Kieran Culkin
Supporting actress
Zoe Saldaña
Photography by @kneecap32.
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