2023 Baftas Highlights: From the Batmobile to a Drunk Pinocchio

German-language war film All Quiet on the Western Front was the big winner at the Baftas on Sunday night, picking up seven awards and breaking the record for most wins for a non-English film in the process.

Inisherin’s and Elvis’ Banshees also enjoyed success with four wins each at the event, which was held for the first time at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

But while you might know who won what, here are some snippets you might have missed both from the ceremony and behind the scenes.

Well, not exactly. But he instead arrived on the Thames in the Batmobile, on the advice of Hollywood star Steve Martin no less. However, Grant chose to ignore another piece of advice from the veteran star: Don’t wear white.

In fact, Grant wore white — and more. Not content with a white tuxedo jacket, he added a dramatic white Dracula-style cape to make his grand entrance. Unfortunately, it was dumped too quickly for our liking, but it was fun while it lasted.

Prior to the event, Grant promised not to roast any other actors and he stayed true to his word despite referencing last year’s infamous Oscars.

“No one on my watch is slapped tonight – except in the back.”

Some viewers on social media thought they would see the star more alongside Grant – and as this year’s co-hosts they made a cute couple when they appeared together occasionally throughout the evening.

But the plan was still for the ITV presenter to host a slot machine backstage on chic off-stage sofas (which looked like a slightly more glamorous version of the This Morning set).

Unfortunately, despite her best efforts, Alison was unable to persuade Dame Helen Mirren to party with her later. “I have to get up at six in the morning. I have to fly to Berlin,” the actress explained. No rest for the wicked.

Last year’s Best Supporting Actress winner Ariana DeBose (for West Side Story) performed a medley that included Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves with a rap section naming several of the night’s female nominees.

Cracked or cool? You decide. Kerry Condon appeared slightly bewildered, Danielle Deadwyler looked very surprised, while Emma Thompson and Jamie Lee Curtis seemed to really get into it.

This year’s Best Supporting Actress Kerry Condon (for Banshees of Inisherin) said backstage that she had a “weird, weird moment” when she realized she had won (there had an unfortunate incident when the Troy Kotsur performer accidentally named Carey Mulligan as the winner rather than Condon before it was quickly corrected).

While being interviewed by reporters, Condon spotted a live TV feed in the corner of the press room and saw Banshees writer and director Martin McDonagh take the stage to accept the Best Screenplay award. original. “Oh, go away! I miss it. Hurry up ! Should we listen to it for a minute? “Be our guest.

Fortunately, McDonagh paid tribute to him (otherwise it might have been a bit awkward).

He described her as “the amazing Kerry Condon, who I first worked with on a play at the RSC 21 years ago. And she was amazing in it as she is – although more than 12 people could have seen this!”

Condon’s co-star Barry Keoghan was also thrilled with his Best Supporting Actor win.

“It encourages the arts back home, we’re an island of storytelling. It massively helps the industry back home. I mean, 14 Oscar nominations are Irish… and I’m wearing red. I should have been wearing green !”

He plans to put his Bafta on top of his late mother’s picture – although he almost left it in the press room and had to run back to retrieve it.

Guillermo del Toro won Best Animation for his dark adaptation of the classic children’s tale Pinocchio.

“Is Pinocchio with you?” someone asks backstage. “Yes, but he’s getting drunk somewhere!”

While the famous puppet may be missing, David Bradley – who voices Geppetto – carried a puppet of his character with him. A more unique.

And he even wears his own little Bafta!

The Elvis star’s best actor winner was somewhat upset, with many expecting Colin Farrell to pick up his first Bafta for the Inisherin Banshees.

But he returned to Ireland’s good books by revealing ‘someone told me the other day they thought I was Irish’. (Although he still looks a lot like Elvis to us).

“Is Butler an Irish surname?” (Sorry, we think it’s Norman French).

Upon hearing that Elvis may (or may not) have had Irish connections, he was asked if he felt an Irish connection during filming. “Yeah, that was all I was thinking,” he said deadpan.

Navalny – a film about the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny – won Best Documentary. The creators regretted his absence and that of investigative journalist Christo Grozev, who could not be present at the ceremony due to “a risk to public safety”.

Activist and journalist Maria Pevchikh said: “The message to the Kremlin is to release Navalny and all political prisoners immediately and to stop the war (in Ukraine) immediately.

“Before Navalny went to jail, I promised him that I would pass the time while he was in jail climbing the highest mountain and shouting and shouting his name and making sure people didn’t don’t forget what he did for my country. I think tonight’s stage was quite a high mountain.”