London [UK], February 17: Brady Corbet took home the prestigious Best Director award for his film The Brutalist at the 78th edition of the BAFTA Awards, which were streamed in India on Lionsgate Play. This recognition follows Corbet’s earlier win at the Golden Globes 2025, where he also claimed the Best Director honor.
During his acceptance speech, Corbet expressed his deep emotion and used the moment to advocate for greater autonomy for filmmakers. “I’m incredibly moved,” Corbet said. “I prepared one speech, not two,” he joked, before adding, “I just wanted to leave everyone with something to think about: Final-cut tiebreak goes to the director.” The director’s comment was a call for more respect and creative freedom in the industry.
He continued by recalling how he was told that The Brutalist was “un-distributable” and that no one would come to see it. Despite these challenges, Corbet emphasized the importance of supporting filmmakers. “Films don’t exist without the filmmakers. Please, let’s support them. Let’s prop them up,” he urged, celebrating all directors in the room.
The Brutalist, which spans 30 years in the life of Laszlo Toth (played by Adrien Brody), tells the story of a Hungarian-born Jewish architect who survived the Holocaust and sought a new life in America after World War II. The film explores Toth’s struggles with poverty and his eventual rise to success after landing a contract with a mysterious and wealthy client, played by Guy Pearce.