The EE BAFTAs have made their mark on this year’s Oscar race as film awards season reaches its dramatic conclusion.

After achieving Golden Globe success last month, the fact-based western The Revenant boosted its hopes of Best Picture glory by taking home five awards, including the coveted Best Film accolade ahead of the likes of The Big Short and Spotlight.

As expected, Leonardo DiCaprio moved a step closer towards a first Oscar after winning the Leading Actor prize for his physically-challenging role as renowned frontiersman Hugh Glass.

The Hollywood superstar said he was “humbled and honoured” and praised the influence of British actors on his acting career. He also used his win to wish his mother a happy birthday.

Additionally, filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu clinched Best Director, while the film also collected wins for its cinematography and sound.

Iñárritu described the Best Film win as “overwhelming” and said DiCaprio’s “talent and commitment” to the “risky project” had “kept the film breathing”.

DiCaprio’s former Titanic co-star Kate Winslet boosted her own hopes of a second Academy Award win after she overcame Rooney Mara (Carol) and Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina) to clinch Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Apple marketing executive Joanna Hoffman in the factual drama Steve Jobs.

Picking up her statuette, Winslet praised her fellow nominees – saying it had been “an extraordinary year for women”.

Meanwhile, an absent Brie Larson also closed in on her own inevitable Oscar triumph after securing the Leading Actress gong for her powerful performance as imprisoned mother Joy “Ma” Newsome in the indie drama Room.

Another Brit to enjoy success on the night was seasoned performer Mark Rylance, as he picked up Best Supporting Actor for his turn as Soviet spy Rudolf Abel in Steven Spielberg’s Cold War drama Bridge of Spies.

His victory gives him a possible chance of overcoming category favourite Sylvester Stallone (Creed) when the pair lock horns at the Oscars in two weeks time.

Elsewhere, the romantic drama Brooklyn saw off the likes of 45 Years, The Danish Girl and Ex Machina to win the Outstanding British Film prize while the satirical comedy The Big Short, and the factual drama Spotlight were the respective winners of Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Screenplay.

Meanwhile, the post-apocalyptic action sequel Mad Max: Fury Road did well in the technical categories as it won four awards for Best Editing, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Makeup & Hair.

It was also a decent evening for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, as the sci-fi blockbuster nabbed the Best Special Visual Effects prize, while star John Boyega overcame the likes of Taron Egerton and Dakota Johnson to win the EE Rising Star Award.

On his success, London-born star Boyega said:

“I’m going to share this with all the young dreamers who are determined and hard-working – this is for you.”

The Amy Winehouse documentary Amy bolstered its own hopes of Oscar success after scooping the Best Documentary award, while Pixar’s Inside Out and the Argentina dark comedy Wild Tales were the respective winners of Best Animated Film and Best Film Not in the English Language.

Meanwhile, veteran composer Ennio Morricone was awarded his SIXTH BAFTA win in the Best Original Music category for his work on the western drama The Hateful Eight, and now looks certain to finally end his long wait for an Academy Award.

Finally, Hollywood legend Sidney Poitier was the recipient of this year’s BAFTA Fellowship award for his mesmerising work over many decades with notable roles including The Defiant Ones (1958), Lilies of the Field (1963), To Sir, With Love, Guess Whose Coming to Dinner and In the Heat of the Night (all 1967).

Despite being unable to attend the ceremony in person due to health reasons, the Oscar-winning star accepted the honour via a video message from his Los Angeles home saying:

“Thank you for your warm embrace and this extraordinary moment – a memory I shall cherish always.”

However, it was a frustrating evening for Carol as the romantic drama came away empty-handed from nine nominations while other multi-nodded films like The Danish Girl, Ex Machina, The Martian, and Sicario missed out on BAFTA love.

The full list of EE BAFTA winners are…

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
THE BIG SHORT (Adam McKay & Charles Randolph)

BAFTA Fellowship
Sidney Poitier