BELFAST last night won the Bafta for Outstanding British Film at the 75th award ceremony.
The film, starring Irish actors including Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe, Ciaran Hinds and newcomer Jude Hill, as well as Oscar-winner Dame Judi Dench, lost out in all its other nominated categories but claimed the major award.
Directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh, the semi-autobiographical film focuses on the outbreak of the Troubles.
While accepting the award, Sir Kenneth thanked people in Ireland and Britain for watching the film in cinemas.
"All hail the streaming revolution but all hail the big screen too, it's alive, and long may they live together," he said.
"This is a black and white film about the Troubles, it was not an easy pitch but when the great talent in this room dreams up anything similarly unlikely to make or to finance, please remember if you build it, they will come.
"Build it with passion and truth and believe in the originality and uniqueness of your story and your voice and believe in the imagination of the public to embrace every and any kind of story well told.
"We are so proud to be included in this year's films, they are all outstanding, thank you very much for being so kind to ours, we deeply appreciate it."
On the Bafta red carpet, actor Ciaran Hinds, who lost out in the best supporting actor category to Coda star Troy Kotsur, said Belfast had struck a chord with audiences.
"Bafta is very serious about their work, it's also not just big successful things, they sometimes make very esoteric choices as well, very interesting choices, and the art of film is very important," he said.
"So for Belfast to be included in that, which you have to say is a very small film, a small story (which) has resonated with so many people and has become, I would say, a very successful film.
"But it's not an esoteric film, it's very true to humanity, and how our hearts know.
"Some people have mentioned it might be a bit sentimental, but I don't think it's sentimental myself. I think it has sentiment but to me it's not a sentimental film."
Caitriona Balfe was nominated for best supporting actress but lost out to Ariana DeBose from West Side Story.
The Power Of The Dog, directed by Jane Campion, won best film.
Will Smith and Joanna Scanlan were named winners of the top acting prizes, while No Time To Die actress Lashana Lynch was crowned EE rising star.
Blockbuster Dune, directed by Denis Villeneuve and based on Frank Herbert's 1965 novel, picked up five wins on the night for special visual effects, cinematography, sound, original score and production design.
Disney juggernaut Encanto was named best animated film, while Summer Of Soul (...or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised), directed by The Roots star Questlove, was named best documentary.
