Baftas 2021: Road movie 'Nomadland' sweeps as women film-makers triumph

London - The awards ceremony saw a strong showing by women directors in the run-up to this month's Oscars.

The US road movie 'Nomadland' triumphed at the Bafta film awards on Sunday, with Chinese director Chloe Zhao's intimate portrayal of marginalised Americans winning in four categories including best film, best actress and best director.

The socially distanced and largely remote awards ceremony in London saw a strong showing by women directors in the run-up to this month's Oscars.

The British academy has sought to improve diversity and Zhao was one of four women nominated for "best director".

"We brought in changes to the awards to level the playing field", said Krishnendu Majumdar, chair of the academy, following criticism over last year's awards ceremony which had no women directors and an all-white shortlist.

Zhao welcomed stronger representation for women film-makers in comments to journalists afterwards, saying: "It's about time, it's great."

"I love doing what I do and if this means more people like me get to live their dreams, I'm very grateful".

British director Emerald Fennell also carried off two awards for her debut feature, "Promising Young Woman" starring Carey Mulligan.

The Oscar-tipped thriller is about a woman who avenges a friend's rape by pretending to be drunk in bars and then turning the tables on men who prey on her.

The film, which has elements of comedy and horror, won for outstanding British film and original screenplay.

Sitting in front of a grand piano in a gauzy white dress, Fennell described the film as a "labour of love".

"It was the greatest thing in my life making this film," she said.

The film is nominated for Oscars for best director and best original screenplay, while Mulligan is nominated for best actress.

Zhao accepted Nomadland's multiple awards dressed casually in a plaid shirt from Los Angeles, saying that she planned to start the day with celebrations.

"Tomorrow morning, I will be very hungover," she said.

The film's star Frances McDormand won for best leading actress and sent a written message saying: "Thank you, dear British people."

"Nomadland" is one of the frontrunners for this month's Oscar awards, with six nominations including for best picture, best director and best actress.

Last month it won coveted Golden Globe awards for best drama film and best director.

Welsh actor Sir Anthony Hopkins won the best actor Bafta for "The Father" about a man suffering from dementia, directed by France's Florian Zeller.

The 83-year-old didn't appear during the ceremony but spoke to journalists afterwards, explaining that he had not expected to win and had been holidaying in Wales and painting in his hotel room.

"This is wonderful, I mean, this is the first time in my life when I never expected to get this," he said, calling his fourth Bafta a "fun bonus".

An emerging star, 19-year-old Bukky Bakray, won the EE Rising Star award, chosen by public vote, for "Rocks", a coming-of-age drama set in London.