LAST UPDATE | 19 Feb 2023

THE BANSHEES OF Inisherin won four BAFTAs tonight, including outstanding British film, best supporting actor and supporting actress for Barry Keoghan and Kerry Condon respectively, and original screenplay.

Meanwhile, Elvis star Austin Butler beat favourite Colin Farrell to win the BAFTA for best leading actor.

Accepting the outstanding British film award from Patrick Stewart, director and writer Martin McDonagh said: “I know every Irish person in the cast and crew are going ‘best what?’”

During his speech after winning the screenplay award, McDonagh also said: “Making a sad film, shouldn’t be so much fun.”

Supporting actors

Carey Mulligan was initially and incorrectly announced as the winner of the supporting actress award at the ceremony instead of Condon after a translation gaffe while deaf actor Troy Kotsur was presenting.

Oscar-winner Kotsur was delivering the announcement by sign language before a miscommunication resulted in Mulligan’s name being called for her performance in She Said.

The announcer quickly corrected the call and announced The Banshees Of Inisherin star Kerry Condon as the winner.

Taking to the stage, Condon paid tribute to director Martin McDonagh, adding: “Thank you for all the parts you gave me throughout my career. You make me so proud to be an Irish woman.”

She also thanked the “amazing cast” and her family as well as her horses and dogs.

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Event host Richard E Grant joked later that he had a defibrillator for Mulligan.

Fellow Banshees star Barry Keoghan then won best supporting actor.

The 30-year-old Irish actor told the audience he “should have planned this, really” before thanking his co-stars and Ireland.

He also dedicated the award to children from Summerhill, Dublin, where he grew up. 

“This is for my son as well… for my mother and also for the kids that are dreaming to be something from the area that I came from. This is for youse,” he said.

In an outstanding night for Irish film, An Irish Goodbye won the British short film award. 

Co-director Ross White said his team is “so honoured” to be a part of the talent from the nation who are swept the awards tonight.

Speaking in the Bafta winners’ room, White said: “It’s a remarkable year for Irish film and the talent on display across all the awards.

“We are a very small part of that but we’re so honoured to be a part of that.

“We’re representing Northern Ireland as well, it just means means a lot for us.

“Our fellow nominees in Colm Bairead for The Quiet Girl, beautiful film, the Banshees team, to see this Irish talent all being recognised in this way it’s such an honour and fills us with pride.”

Other awards

Jamie Lee Curtis and Anya Taylor-Joy presented the outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer to Charlotte Wells for Aftersun, starring Paul Mescal.

Tearfully, she thanked the producers, cast and crew and mentioned the earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey, where the movie was filmed.

Wells also said her film was a “eulogy” to her father and added “he’s not here, but my mum is”.

The award for film not in the English language went to All Quiet On The Western Front.

Director and screenwriter Edward Berger said: “I booked tickets for Emma Thompson and it was the highlight of my life.”

He then added that the filmmakers “grew up with a responsibility to tell the story” and were honoured the public had “accepted it with overwhelming love”.

The first award of the night, best adapted screenplay, also went to All Quiet On The Western Front, with Berger paying tribute to those fighting in Ukraine.

Screenwriter Ian Stokell said the project had been “worth the wait” because the film is anti-war.

The Netflix epic led the pack with 14 nominations.

The Banshees Of Inisherin and Everything Everywhere All At Once, featuring Michelle Yeoh, followed close behind with ten nominations each.

This year’s ceremony moved to the Royal Festival Hall from its previous location of the Royal Albert Hall, which had hosted the show since 2017.