Payal Kapadia‘s All We Imagine As Light brought pride to India with its nomination at the 2025 BAFTA Awards. The film, featuring Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, and Chhaya Kadam, was nominated in the Best Film Not in the English Language category but ultimately lost to Emilia Pérez, a Spanish-language French musical crime drama.
Set in Mumbai, All We Imagine As Light follows the life of Nurse Prabha, whose routine is disrupted by an unexpected gift from her estranged husband, while her roommate, Anu, seeks intimacy with her boyfriend amidst the city’s chaos. The film had earlier missed out on a win at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards as well.
As expected, Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez emerged victorious in the category at the 78th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA). The film’s director, Jacques Audiard, accepted the award, but it was his acceptance speech that drew attention.
Despite controversy surrounding actor Karla Sofía Gascón’s past offensive tweets, Audiard acknowledged her in his speech. According to Variety, he thanked Gascón—who was absent at the ceremony and has largely been removed from the awards campaign.
“Above all, I would like to thank all the wonderful artists who brought this film to life and who are here with us tonight,” Audiard said. “My dear Zoe, my dear Selena, Giorgini, Paul, Juliet, Camille, Clement, Julia and your team, but also you, my dear Karla Sofía, that I kiss. I’m deeply proud of what we achieved together. Long live Emilia Pérez.”
While Gascón skipped the BAFTAs—as she had done with the Critics Choice Awards, PGA Awards, and Goya Awards—her co-stars Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña were present at the ceremony. Both were nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category and were also among the presenters of the night.
BAFTA 2025 Winners List:
Best Film: Emilia Pérez
Leading Actress: Mikey Madison (Anora)
Leading Actor: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
Outstanding British Film: Conclave
Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer: Kneecap
Children’s & Family Film: Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Film Not in English Language: Emilia Pérez
Documentary: Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Animated Film: Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Director: Brady Corbet (The Brutalist)
Original Screenplay: A Real Pain
Adapted Screenplay: Conclave
Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)
Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)
Casting: Anora
Cinematography: The Brutalist
Costume Design: Wicked
Editing: Conclave
Makeup & Hair: The Substance
Original Score: The Brutalist
Production Design: Wicked
Special Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two
British Short Animation: Wander to Wonder
British Short Film: Rock, Paper, Scissors
