The biggest moments from the 2024 BAFTA Awards

The BAFTAs, the most coveted awards in the British film industry, were announced in London last night at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre. Oppenheimer stole the spotlight with seven wins including awards for Best Film, Best Direction, Best Actor (Cillian Murphy), Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.), Best Editing (Jennifer Lame), Best Cinematography (Hoyte van Hoytema), and Best Original Score (Ludwig Goransson). The dark comedy, Poor Things had a successful night, with wins in the Best Actress (Emma Stone), Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Make-up & Hair, and Best Special Visual Effects categories. Unfortunately, the night was far from good for Barbie and Killers of the Flower Moon

Here's our list of the biggest moments from the 2024 BAFTAs.

Michael J Fox received the biggest standing ovation of the night

Everyone was taken by surprise when host, David Tennant, announced that actor Michael J Fox would be presenting the award for Best Film. The entire room applauded as Fox, who is living with Parkinson's disease, was wheeled onstage. The actor then stood on his feet by the podium to hand out the award to Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer.

“There’s a reason why they say movies are magic,” Fox told the crowd as he read out the nominees. “Movies can change your day, they can change your outlook. Sometimes they can even change your life.”

Robert Downey Jr thanks ‘That Dude’ Christopher Nolan in acceptance speech

Robert Downey Jr's acceptance speech for his Best Supporting Actor win was one to remember! The actor not only reflected on his career but also gave a shout-out to ‘that dude’ Christopher Nolan. “When I was 15, I wanted to be Peter O’Toole. When I was 25, I worked for Richard Attenborough and Anthony Hopkins. When I was 35, I finally understood why Dickie thought Tony would be a better role model for me than Peter,” Downey Jr said. “When I was 42, I did two films for Guy Ritchie and learned how to make big Hollywood movies with a civil British flare. I then played a guy named Tony in the MCU for about 12 years.” He continued, “And then recently, that dude, Chris Nolan suggested I attempt an understated approach as a last-ditch effort to perhaps resurrect my dwindling credibility. So I share this with my fellow nominees, this has been an exceptional year.”

Prince Williams rubs shoulders with David Beckham

The Prince of Wales attended this year’s awards solo as his wife, Katherine, the Princess of Wales, is recovering from her recent abdominal surgery. Having served as president of the academy since 2010, Prince William attended the event donning a blue blazer with black trousers and a white shirt, complete with a black bow tie and black. He was spotted mingling with the likes of football legend David Beckham and Australian actress Cate Blanchett.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor performs her 2001 smash hit ‘Murder on the Dance Floor’

Sophie Ellis-Bextor performed her 2001 smash hit, which was featured in Emerald Fennell’s BAFTA-nominated film Saltburn. Surrounded by a group of dancers who showed off their moves, Ellis Bextor sang the song in a Sophie Couture black dress, featuring a deep-V sweetheart neckline and a voluminous peplum high-low tulle skirt. Her performance was greeted by joyous screams and loud applause from the crowd in attendance.

Matthew Perry forgotten in the Memoriam segment 

Along with the Barbie and Killers of the Flower Moon snubs, the BAFTA Awards received backlash for leaving out Matthew Perry in its Memoriam segment. The tribute, set to a special arrangement of Cyndi Lauper's ‘Time After Time’, was performed by Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham, and Perry's absence left his fans upset.

BAFTA responded “I can confirm Matthew Perry will be remembered in our forthcoming BAFTA Television Awards.” According to PEOPLE, the body echoed its statement on X and wrote, “Matthew Perry will be remembered in this year's TV Awards ceremony (sic).”

Complete winners list

Best Film: Oppenheimer

Best Director: Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer

Leading Actress: Emma Stone, Poor Things

Leading Actor: Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer

Supporting Actress: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers

Supporting Actor: Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer

Outstanding British Film: The Zone of Interest

Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer: Earth Mama

Film Not in the English Language: The Zone of Interest

Documentary: 20 Days In Mariupol

Animated Film: The Boy And The Heron

Adapted Screenplay: Cord Jefferson, American Fiction

Original Screenplay: Justine Triet and Arthur Harari, Anatomy of a Fall

Original Score: Ludwig Göransson, Oppenheimer

Costume Design: Holly Waddington, Poor Things

Production Design: Shona Heath, James Price, and Zsuzsa Mihalek, Poor Things

Special Visual Effects: Tim Barter, Simon Hughes, Dean Koonjul, and Jane Paton, Poor Things

Make-up & Hair: Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier and Josh Weston, Poor Things

Editing: Jennifer Lame, Oppenheimer

Cinematography: Hoyte van Hoytema, Oppenheimer

Casting: Susan Shopmaker, The Holdovers

Sound: Johnnie Burn and Tarn Willers, The Zone of Interest

British Short Animation: Crab Day

British Short Film: Jellyfish and Lobster

EE Rising Star Award: Mia Mckenna-Bruce

Also read: The full list of nominations for 2024 Oscars and everything you need to know about the 96th Academy Awards

Also read: The big winners from the 2024 Golden Globe Awards