Category: Entertainment

BAFTA Film Awards host Alan Cumming thanked the audience for their understanding on Sunday night after a number of outbursts from Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson during the show.

Davidson, who is the inspiration for BAFTA-nominated movie “I Swear,” was diagnosed with the syndrome at the age of 25. His symptoms, which first began when he was 12, include tics and uncontrollable outbursts, often involving cursing.

A number of outbursts could be heard throughout the BAFTA ceremony, including “shut the fuck up” being shouted during an introductory speech from BAFTA chair Sara Putt and “fuck you” when the directors of “Arco,” which won the BAFTA for best children’s and family film, accepted their award. During another outburst, the audience inside the BAFTAs heard Davidson shout the n-word when Michael B, Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the award for best visual effects to “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”

“You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience,” Cumming told the audience, which included the Prince and Princess of Wales. “Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone.”

Later on in the ceremony Cumming made a further statement, saying: “Tourette’s Syndrome is a disability and the tics you’ve heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette’s Syndrome has no control over their language. We apologize if you are offended tonight.”

The outbursts could not be heard in the second half of the ceremony when Davidson appeared to have left the room. Variety understands he left of his own accord and was not asked to leave by BAFTA. A source told Variety earlier that Davidson was an “invited guest” and under no circumstances would he be asked to leave the ceremony. BAFTA did not respond to comment regarding whether the outbursts would be cut for the broadcast, which goes out with a two-hour delay on BBC One in the U.K. (In the U.S. and other international territories it goes out on BritBox International).

Before the ceremony began the floor manager also introduced Davidson to the audience, saying: “I’d like to welcome John Davidson MBE from one of our nominated films ‘I Swear’. John has Tourette’s Syndrome so please be aware you might hear some involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony.”

“I Swear” features “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” star Robert Aramayo as Davidson, following him at the age of 25 after his appearance in a seminal BBC documentary “John’s Not Mad,” which first introduced Tourette’s to a wider audience.

The film, which was directed, written, and produced by Kirk Jones, is up for five BAFTAs, including best leading actor for Aramayo, best supporting actor for his co-star Peter Mullan, best original screenplay and casting (the latter which it won). The film is also competing for outstanding British film.

Aramayo was also awarded BAFTA’s EE Rising Star award on Sunday night. Collecting his award, Aramayo said: “John Davidson is the most remarkable man I ever met. He’s so forthcoming with education and he believes there should be still so much more we need to learn about Tourette’s. Especially, I just want to say for people who are living with Tourette’s it’s the buzz around them that helped define what their experience is so, to quote the film, ‘They need support and understanding.’”

Since Davidson went public with his diagnosis four decades ago, a number of public figures have revealed they suffer from the syndrome, for which there is no cure. They include Billie Eilish and Lewis Capaldi.

In a statement to Variety before the ceremony, Emma McNally, CEO of support and research charity Tourettes Action, said: “We’ve had a huge amount of people reach out to us about ‘I Swear,’ both individuals living with Tourette’s syndrome and those with no previous connection to the condition. All have been deeply affected by the film. It’s clearly created a huge public reaction.”

“Viewers have told us that seeing John’s real story portrayed with such depth and honesty has given them a far more accurate understanding of what Tourette’s can look like and how it affects the individual – this is something they had given little thought to previously.”

“We’re hopeful that as more people talk openly and more accurate on‑screen representations appear, we’ll continue moving toward a more inclusive and understanding society for everyone living with Tourette’s.”

Paul Thomas Anderson won the BAFTA Film Award for best director for his sprawling and politically-charged satire “One Battle After Another,” which has long been an awards season favorite. As he accepted the award, Anderson quipped, “I feel like the prettiest girl in the room right now,” prompting laughter from the crowd.

But Anderson’s tone soon turned serious as he dedicated the award to the late producer, assistant director and Brit Adam Somner. “You may think that your greatest export is Alfred Hitchcock or Charlie Chaplin, but it wasn’t,” Anderson said. “To me, it was Adam Somner, who was my assistant director and producer for about 20 years. He came over to America and the line was out the door of people who wanted to work with him because he made us all better.”

Anderson continued: “About three weeks into our film, he found out he was sick, and he made it through production. If you’ve ever gone to work before with someone who’s very ill, there’s something miraculous that makes you pay attention and reminds you the privilege of the work that we do. So thank you for sending him to me.”

One of contemporary cinema’s most acclaimed directors, the BAFTA win is Anderson’s first for best director, having previously been nominated in the same category for “We Will Be Blood” and “Licorice Pizza.”

Loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s novel “Vineland,” “One Battle After Another” — PTA’s most epic and ambitious film to date — follows a rabble of ex-revolutionaries reuniting to rescue a comrade’s daughter after an old enemy resurfaces. The ensemble cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor and breakout Chase Infiniti.

Anderson, also behind films such as “Boogie Nights,” “Magnolia” and “The Master,” can now add another director award to an array of honors that already includes best director at the Cannes Film Festival, the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and the Silver and Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.

“One Battle After Another” went into the BAFTA Awards leading the pack with 14 nominations, just two short of the record set by “Gandhi.” For the upcoming Academy Awards, the film has 13 nominations, with hopes that Anderson will finally add a long-awaited Oscar to his collection.

Marty Mauser has lost another critical match — but this time, it was in the awards game.

Josh Safdie’s sports dramedy “Marty Supreme” left this year’s BAFTA ceremony with an unwelcome distinction, tying the record for most losses in a single night after going 0-for-11.

The film entered BAFTA with formidable nomination strength and broad expectations of converting in at least a handful of categories — particularly for leading actor Timothée Chalamet, who picked up major stops this season at the Critics Choice Awards and the Golden Globes in Jan. In one of the night’s biggest shocks, Chalamet lost to Robert Aramayo from Kirk Jones’ Tourette’s drama movie, “I Swear.”

Now, the A24 contender was shut out across the board, joining “Women in Love” (1969) and “Finding Neverland” (2004) as the only films to go winless with 11 nominations. Notably, both of those titles still went on to win a single Oscar on their respective nights: Glenda Jackson for best actress (“Women in Love”) and Jan A.P. Kaczmarek for original score (“Finding Neverland”). The BAFTA result is especially striking given Safdie’s own dominance on the ballot; he is the year’s most-nominated individual with four nominations, spanning his roles as director, co-producer, co-writer and co-editor.

Despite the BAFTA setback, “Marty Supreme” remains a formidable player in the wider awards conversation, and history offers a reminder that a rough precursor night isn’t always fatal. Another A24 title, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (2022), managed only one BAFTA win (film editing) before going on to take seven Oscars, including best picture, director and three acting prizes. The moving drama “Moonlight” (2016) also went without a single BAFTA win that year, losing all four of its awards, before pulling off a historic upset in best picture at the Oscars.

Still, the optics sting with a win-less night and a record-tying losses stat, which is not the kind of headline any campaign wants in the final stretch.

At BAFTA, “Marty Supreme” was nominated for best film, director, leading actor (Chalamet), supporting actress (Odessa A’zion), casting, original screenplay, production design, cinematography, costume design, film editing and makeup and hairstyling. At the Oscars, the film is nominated for nine, but misses BAFTA nominations for supporting actress and makeup and hairstyling.

Final Oscar voting runs from Feb. 26 to March 5. The 98th Oscars will be held on March 15 on ABC, hosted by Conan O’Brien.

Robert Aramayo pulled off one of the all-time BAFTA upsets on Sunday night when he beat a line-up of Hollywood all-stars — Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke, Timothée Chalamet, Jesse Plemons and Michael B. Jordan — to take home the leading actor award for his performance as real-life Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson in Kirk Jones’ “I Swear.”

“I absolutely can’t believe it, I can’t believe that I’m looking at people like you, in the same category as you, never mind that I’m stood here,” the tearful actor, who also stars as Elrond in Prime Video’s “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” said to his fellow nominees. “I honestly cannot believe that I have won this award. I really, really cannot. Everyone in this category blows me away.”

Aramayo went on to thank a number of people including director and writer Jones as well as Davidson, before sharing an anecdote about Hawke from his schooldays. “When I was in school, Ethan Hawke came in to speak to us at Juilliard and he gave an amazing talk on longevity as an actor, about protecting your instrument and avoiding self destructive behaviors,” the younger actor recalled. “And it had a really great impact on everyone in that room. So to be in this category with you tonight is incredible. Thank you Ethan.”

Still in shock, he wrapped with: “OK I’m going to stop talking now. Thank you so so so so much.”

Earlier in the evening Aramayo also won the EE Rising Star Award while “I Swear” casting director Lauren Evans won the casting award. Co-star Peter Mullan was nominated for supporting actor while the film was nominated for outstanding British film although it lost out in the category to “Hamnet.”

Set in 1980s Scotland, “I Swear” follows John Davidson, a young man with severe Tourette syndrome, which can present with tics and outbursts involving cursing, as he navigates rejection from his family and society at a time when the condition was barely understood, and his eventual emergence as a national advocate for the disorder.

Davidson was present during the first half of the BAFTA ceremony, where the audience included William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, but after a number of involuntary outbursts he left midway through. BAFTAs host Alan Cumming apologized to anyone who was offended and thanked the audience for their understanding.

Prior to the BAFTAs, Emma McNally, CEO of support and research charity Tourettes Action, told Variety: “Historically, portrayals of Tourette’s in the media have tended to focus on shock value or reduce the condition to a punchline. ‘I Swear’ is very different. It focuses on resilience, the challenges people face, and the everyday realities of living with Tourette’s, rather than relying on stereotypes or sensationalism. It’s such a powerful, compassionate film that has opened up meaningful conversations.”

The BAFTA win marks Aramayo’s first BAFTA Film Award nomination. Aramayo had already won the British Independent Film Award for best lead performance and the ALFS Breakthrough Performer of the Year at the London Critics Circle Film Awards ahead of the BAFTA ceremony.

“I Swear” will be eligible for the Oscars next year after only getting a U.S. release recently. After premiering at TIFF last September it got a U.K. release in Oct. 2025.

For his BAFTA leading actor victory, Aramayo beat out Chalamet in “Marty Supreme,” DiCaprio in “One Battle After Another,” Hawke in “Blue Moon,” Jordan in “Sinners” and Plemons in “Bugonia.

After “One Battle After Another” claimed the BAFTA for best film on Sunday night, director Paul Thomas Anderson had a simple message for critics of modern cinema.

“Anybody that says movies aren’t any good anymore should piss right off,” Anderson, who both wrote and directed the action thriller, said to cheers and laughter. “I want to say thank you, and I know that there’s a bar somewhere. I think we should all go there. It’s been a long evening, but we have so much to celebrate.”

Anderson ended his speech by sharing a quote from pianist, singer and activist Nina Simone that he admitted “we stole in our film.”

“She says, ‘I know what freedom is, it’s no fear,’” Anderson said. “So let’s keep making things without fear. It’s a good idea. See ya at the bar!”

Asked backstage if the world needs another revolution, Anderson replied: “Well yeah, sure, we do. We always do. We just need to conduct a revolution, hopefully without violence, and do it properly … Unfortunately, the title makes sense. It just does start to seem like one battle after another these days.”

Loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s novel “Vineland,” “One Battle After Another” follows ex-revolutionaries reuniting to rescue a comrade’s daughter after an old enemy resurfaces. The ensemble cast is stacked with award winners in Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro and Regina Hall plus Teyana Taylor and breakout Chase Infiniti. On Sunday, “One Battle After Another” took home the most BAFTA Awards, including best director and adapted screenplay for Anderson and best supporting actor for Penn.

For Anderson, one of contemporary cinema’s most critically-acclaimed directors, “One Battle After Another” marks his first major awards contender and his first time winning BAFTA’s top prize. Both “There Will Be Blood” and “Licorice Pizza” were nominated for best film but lost out. Across eight previous nominations, he’s only had one win, when “Licorice Pizza” won best original screenplay in 2022.

“One Battle After Another,” which has 13 Oscar nominations, went into the BAFTA Film Awards leading the pack with 14 nominations, just two short of the record set by “Gandhi.”

Prince William paid tribute to NBCUniversal chair Donna Langley as he awarded her BAFTA’s highest honor, the BAFTA Fellowship during the film awards on Sunday night, calling the British-born studio head a “shining light.”

“The path to fellowship is an honor given in recognition of an exceptional contribution to film,” he told the audience, which included many of Langley’s colleagues and collaborators, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Renée Zellweger and Emma Stone. “And tonight’s recipient is quite simply that – exceptional.”

He went on to cite Langley’s “determination,” “commitment,” “transformative leadership” and “unwavering commitment to creative partnership” among other characteristics.

He also praised Langley, who was awarded one of the U.K.’s highest royal honors, a Damehood, by Queen Elizabeth II in 2020, for advocating “tireless[ly]” for British talent abroad.

“Dame Donna’s impact at NBC Universal and on the film industry is significant,” William said. “She is a shining light to all those starting out in the creative industries, showing that anything is possible.”

He then introduced a VT that included tributes from many of Langley’s colleagues including Christopher Nolan, who is currently putting the finishing touches to upcoming Universal Pictures film “The Odyssey,” Steven Spielberg, Eric Fellner, Judy Craymer and Emma Thompson.

“Her patience is kind of like the bonding agent,” Spielberg said. “It makes us all feel like, in a way, she’s our security blanket.”

As the audience at the Royal Festival Hall rose to give Langley a standing ovation, William’s wife Catherine, who was sitting next to the NBCUniversal chief in the front row, gave her a warm smile before Langley made her way to the stage to accept her fellowship.

“As my career has progressed, I’ve come to believe that the most meaningful part of what we do is the people we choose to support along the way,” Langley told the audience. “The voices we encourage. And the talent we protect…long enough for them to find their feet. And the doors we remember to open.”

“We are also facing moments of change and disruption today. And my hope is that those of us who help tell stories for a living continue to find inspiration to make popular art that carries over into people’s everyday lives – that helps us understand the world a bit better and to see each other a little more clearly…and reminds us that decency is a superpower.”

William and Catherine’s presence at the ceremony on Sunday night was a closely guarded secret, with neither BAFTA nor Kensington Palace giving any hint the couple planned to attend.