Brady Corbet’s epic American immigrant saga, The Brutalist, has been awarded the prestigious Film of the Year title by the London Critics' Circle during its annual film awards ceremony on February 2, 2025. Held at the May Fair Hotel, this prestigious event showcased the brilliance of today's cinema as recognized by the U.K.’s leading film writers and broadcasters.
The Brutalist, which tells the poignant tale of Laszlo Toth—an architect fleeing from Nazi persecution—features stellar performances from Adrien Brody, who takes on the titular role, and Felicity Jones as his estranged wife, Erzsebet. Directed and co-written by Corbet, this gripping film captures the struggles of those who were forced to rebuild their lives far from home.
While The Brutalist emerged victorious, the awards ceremony celebrated numerous other notable films and performances. Edward Berger's Vatican thriller Conclave also received high honors, securing two awards, including British/Irish Film of the Year and Actor of the Year for Ralph Fiennes. Expressing his gratitude at the ceremony, Fiennes noted, "I feel very delighted to receive this, but I think in my heart I scratch my head about the concept of there being winners when you are acting. I look at the wonderful work of my fellow nominees... I’m blown away." His humble reflection on the artistry of his peers highlights the camaraderie within the industry.
RaMell Ross's adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Nickel Boys, was recognized for both Director of the Year and Technical Achievement, awarded to cinematographer Jomo Fray. Ross's direction captured the brutal realities of life for two young African-American boys caught up in the reform school system during the 1960s. These noteworthy accomplishments indicate the award's commitment to spotlighting socially-relevant films.
Zoe Saldaña triumphed as Best Supporting Actress for her role in Jacques Audiard's musical Emilia Pérez. This recognition was even more significant considering the backdrop of controversy surrounding her film’s lead star following resurfaced objectionable tweets. Saldaña expressed her views on the situation post-ceremony, emphasizing the need for industry accountability, as she accepted the Derek Malcolm Award for Innovation from co-presenters America Ferrera and Colman Domingo.
Other notable winners included Marianne Jean-Baptiste, who received the Actress of the Year award for her poignant portrayal of struggle and familial relationships in the drama Hard Truths. Jean-Baptiste remarked, "Actress of the year is all the more sweeter coming from London," reflecting on the honor of receiving recognition from her peers at home. Kieran Culkin took home the Supporting Actor award for his role in Jesse Eisenberg's dark comedy, A Real Pain, which also earned Eisenberg the Screenwriter of the Year accolade, solidifying his stature within the film community.
The event also honored young talent, with Nykiya Adams taking the Young British/Iris Performer of the Year award for her role in Bird. Meanwhile, Mikey Madison, star of Anora, won the Breakthrough Performer prize, reflecting the promising future of British and Irish cinema.
Daniel Craig received the illustrious Dilys Powell Award for Excellence, marking 20 years since he first received the Critics' Circle's British Actor of the Year award for Enduring Love. This evening, he was presented with the honor by his co-star Lesley Manville, emphasizing the lasting impact of Craig's career on the film industry.
This year's awards were particularly notable for their wide distribution of honors: 15 films received awards across 18 categories, signifying the expansive talent embedded within the industry. Both The Substance and A Complete Unknown came away empty-handed, signaling the competitiveness of this year's nominations.
With the recognition of films like All We Imagine as Light, which won Foreign-Language Film of the Year, and No Other Land, awarded Documentary of the Year, the London Critics' Circle Film Awards have once again demonstrated their commitment to diverse storytelling.
The event, voted on by the 210-member film section of the Critics' Circle, serves as the most esteemed recognition within the U.K. film community, celebrating not only the films and performances themselves but the narratives and artistry behind them. Moving forward, this recognition is likely to galvanize both audiences and filmmakers alike, creating excitement around upcoming nominees for future awards.