“Oppenheimer,” a three-hour epic about the creation of the atomic bomb during World War II, dominated the 77th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs), securing seven major awards, including best film, best director, and best actor.
These victories further solidify the film’s position as a frontrunner for the upcoming Oscars.
British-born filmmaker Christopher Nolan, who directed “Oppenheimer,” won his first BAFTA for best director, while Irish actor Cillian Murphy received the best actor award for his portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist known as the father of the atomic bomb.
In his acceptance speech, Nolan expressed gratitude to his cast, crew, and the film’s backers for supporting such a challenging project. He also acknowledged the efforts of those working to reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the world, dedicating his win to their cause.
Murphy, who had been widely tipped to win, thanked the BAFTAs for the honor and shared his appreciation for being able to portray such a “colossally knotty, complex character.”
The night also saw success for the surreal dark comedy “Poor Things,” which earned five awards, including best actress for Emma Stone. Stone was recognized for her role as a Victorian reanimated corpse brought back to life by a mad scientist, in a narrative reminiscent of a female Frankenstein story.