WALLACE & Gromit had a cracking time at the Baftas, landing two awards — as political thriller Conclave bagged four in a big night for British films.
The plasticine pair scooped Best Animated Film and won in the new Children’s And Family Film category for Vengeance Most Fowl.
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It was watched by more than 20 million when it was shown on BBC One on Christmas Day.
Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes, won the coveted Best Film award.
Period drama The Brutalist was also honoured with four awards at the event at London’s Royal Festival Hall, including the Leading Actor gong for Adrien Brody.
But hotly tipped Demi Moore missed out on the award for Best Leading Actress.
Singer Camila Cabello posed for a photo with figurines of Wallace & Gromit after presenting them with their second award.
Backstage, their creator Nick Park, 66, was keen to tease a future on the BBC for the duo.
He said: “The BBC is the home of Wallace & Gromit, it would be weird not to be shown on the BBC.
“There are always Wallace & Gromit ideas spinning around. So watch this space.”
Despite his team’s success, it was the people behind Conclave who celebrated most after also collecting the Outstanding British Film gong.
After being presented with the Best Film honour by Star Wars actor Mark Hamill, director Edward Berger said: “Thank you very much. We are deeply humbled. This is such a big, big honour.”
The thriller about the election of a new Pope also won in the Editing and Adapted Screenplay categories.
Meanwhile, the three-hour, 35 minutes period drama The Brutalist was also celebrating its four awards.
Leading Actor went to Brody, 51, Director to Brady Corbet, 36, Original Score to Daniel Blumberg, 35, and it got a nod for Cinematography.
Despite being the biggest film at the UK box office last year, Wicked’s leading ladies Cynthia Erivo, 38, and Ariana Grande, 31, missed out in their categories.
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However, the musical did pick up awards in the Costume Design and Production Design categories.
Elsewhere, Mikey Madison, 25, was the surprise winner for Leading Actress for comedy-drama Anora, beating competition from The Substance’s Demi Moore, 62.
Anora, which also won in the Casting category, is about a young sex worker who spontaneously marries the son of an oligarch.
Insisting she wanted to recognise sex workers, Mikey said during her speech: “I see you, you deserve respect and human decency. I will always be a friend and ally.”
Comedy-drama A Real Pain won the Supporting Actor award for Kieran Culkin, 42, and the Original Screenplay prize for actor and director Jesse Eisenberg, 41.
Expressing his surprise on stage, Jesse said: “I didn’t write anything, I didn’t think I’d win. I do want to share this with my wife, who didn’t come because she didn’t think I’d win.”
The Documentary gong went to Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, about the late actor’s rise to becoming the star of the 1978 superhero movie — and the 1995 horse-fall that paralysed him.
There was also success for Dune: Part Two in the Sound and Special Visual Effects categories.
West Belfast rap group Kneecap’s self-titled film was named Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.
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Zoe in nod to nephew
ZOE Saldana revealed she had secretly taken on controversial film Emilia Perez for her trans nephew.
She won Supporting Actress for the film, about a trans cartel boss.
Zoe, 46, who posed backstage with Kate Winslet 49, said: “I’m dedicating this to my nephew Eli. They are the reason I signed up.”
Adrien a top man
THE Brutalist star Adrien Brody was named Leading Actor, 22 years after missing out on the award.
The US actor, 51, pipped Conclave’s Ralph Fiennes to take the victory for his role as architect László Tóth.
In 2003 Adrien’s turn in The Pianist missed out to Daniel Day-Lewis for Gangs of New York.
Accepting his first Bafta in a 35-year career, Peaky Blinders star Adrien said: “This is incredibly meaningful as England has felt quite a bit like home lately.”
