SARA PUTT: Good evening and a very warm welcome to the 2025 EE BAFTA Film Awards. I’m delighted to be introducing tonight’s ceremony.
Before we begin, I want to take a moment to send our heartfelt best wishes to our friends and colleagues in LA who have been impacted by the terrible wildfires, including many of our very own BAFTA members. We stand alongside you in admiration at your resilience and strength as you begin to rebuild. I also want to express our deep gratitude to those from the California community who have joined us in London tonight.
Our awards allow us a moment to reflect on the last twelve months, and also to look to the future.
It has been a year of fabulous creativity and storytelling. This year’s 42 nominated films are an incredible showcase of the very best in filmmaking today, both in Britain and globally.
They span a fantastically broad spectrum of genres from the most intimate character pieces to epic societal commentaries; via genre-bending dramas, musicals, comedies, and horror, proving that awards excellence truly comes in many forms.
As an arts charity and an Academy, BAFTA’s role is to showcase this excellence.
We also exist to champion talent, to enrich the cultural landscape, and to level the playing field. We invest in talent.
In my speech last year, I mentioned a survey, which found that while more than half of British school leavers are interested in a career in film and TV – fewer than one in five of them considers this a realistic ambition.
This is particularly true for those from working-class backgrounds. The playing field is not level and routes into and through the industry are not equal for all. Where you begin too often can determine where you end up.
So, what can we do? How can we do more?
This year we have introduced our new Children’s & Family Film category to celebrate films made for intergenerational audiences. We know these films light a spark of inspiration at an early age. Through our Young BAFTA programme, we travel to schools up and down the UK to shine a spotlight on the amazing range of careers in the industry and to tell children that yes, a career in the screen arts can be for you too.
We then work to support them in navigating the often choppy waters of a career in the screen arts.
The UK is a world-leading centre for film and TV production. According to official BFI statistics, a £2.1 billion film production spend in the UK last year. The Craft and production skills here are second to none, as demonstrated by much of the talent on display tonight.
We must take care of those people – the thousands of freelancers that our industry’s success is built on.
Through our BAFTA scholarships and bursaries, we are opening doors to talented individuals from all backgrounds; and through our programmes such as Breakthrough and Elevate, we provide connection and professional support to aid career progression.
We can only do this thanks to the generosity of our donors, patrons and partners, many of whom are here this evening. To you I say a heartfelt thank you.
And as an Academy – for our 13,000 members, 8,000 of them film awards voters – we also provide community.
Everyone here tonight believes in the power of film. With your help, we can do more and we can level the playing field. Making our industry a place where everyone can thrive, and everyone can tell their stories.
Before I sign off, I would like to thank our President of BAFTA, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, for his ongoing support in championing our shared mission.
To the people behind the scenes who put on this amazing awards evening, I would like to say a huge thank you….to Jane Millichip our wonderful CEO and the whole BAFTA team. To Anna Higgs, Chair of The Film Committee, and all the Film Committee who volunteer their time and expertise so generously to BAFTA.
To our fabulous partners including EE, the BBC and co-producers Penny Lane.
And, of course, tonight’s host: the incomparable David Tennant.
Last but certainly not least, to ALL of you, our brilliant nominees – have a wonderful evening.
Thank you.
