74th British Academy Film Awards

[1][9] Despite its minimal live elements, the ceremonies still featured a red carpet in London and a step and repeat in Los Angeles.

[11][12] The ceremony also introduced a new voting system for nominations after criticism over lack of diversity at the 73rd British Academy Film Awards.

[16] The first ceremony awarded casting, craft, and short film categories, and Best Actor in a Supporting Role nominee Leslie Odom Jr. performed the song "Speak Now" from the film One Night in Miami....[17] Edith Bowman and Dermot O'Leary hosted the second night of the ceremony, which aired on 11 April 2021 on BBC One and BBC One HD.

[20] Chloé Zhao became only the second female winner for Best Director (following Kathryn Bigelow in 2010), and the first woman of colour to take the prize; she also shared Best Film with four other producers.

[9][18] Another unexpected win was first-time screenwriter and director Emerald Fennell for Best Original Screenplay (for Promising Young Woman).

[18] Death was a theme among other acceptance speeches; in accepting her Rising Star Award, actress Bukky Bakray paid tribute to rapper DMX, who also died on 9 April 2021, as well as recently-deceased members of her own friends and family, while Thomas Vinterberg, who co-won for Best Film Not in the English Language with Another Round, spoke of his daughter who died during production.

Youn then lightened the mood by noting that she was surprised and more grateful to win due to the perception of British people as "snobbish".

[18] The In Memoriam recognised people who died since the previous ceremony and who had an impact on the British film industry, as well as those related to nominated films:[24] As well as appearing first in the montage, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, royal consort and first president of BAFTA, who died the day before the opening ceremony, was paid tribute in the opening monologues on both nights of the awards.