At the 2021 BAFTA's ceremony, Chloé Zhao's Nomadland took home the night's top awards, and the BAFTA Academy selected Ang Lee to receive the BAFTA Fellowship.  

The BAFTA Fellowship is the Academy’s highest honor: previous Fellowship honourees include Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg and fellow alumni Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker. "Ang Lee is a master of his craft. He is an incredibly versatile, daring and exceptional filmmaker who effortlessly moves between genres," said Marc Samuelson, chair of BAFTA's film committee. "His pioneering work in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Brokeback Mountain and Life of Pi and so many other titles not only showcase his technical ability and deep understanding of the filmmaking process, but also his ability to infuse every story – no matter how epic or simple – with humanizing characters we can all relate to on an emotional level through his exceptional work."

At the ceremony, alumna Chloé Zhao won Best Director for Nomadland and made history, becoming the first Chinese filmmaker to win the award and only the second woman ever. Her film received the night’s top award, Best Film, which she shares with the film’s producer and fellow alumna Mollye Asher. The film’s leading actress Frances MacDormand took home the BAFTA in her category, and alumnus Joshua James Richards was awarded Best Cinematography for his work on the film.

Alumnus Shaka King’s Oscar-nominated Judas and the Black Messiah was recognized by the BAFTA’s with a Supporting Actor win by Daniel Kaluuya. “I thank Shaka,” Kaluuya said in his speech. “I thank you for your leadership.”

The Present, co-written and edited by alumna Hind Shoufani, won Best British Short Film. “I am thrilled for all Palestinian artists who I hope will feel excited and encouraged to continue to create their great work,” Shoufani said in a statement. “I know that everything in our Palestinian heritage actually builds upon the extreme effort, talent and drive of the many generations before us.”

Find a full list of winners here.