British Film Talent Triumphs At Academy Awards As Oppenheimer, Zone Of Interest Take Home Oscars

The 96th Academy Awards showcased a monumental evening for British film talent as director Christopher Nolan finally won the coveted Oscar for Best Director for biopic Oppenheimer.

The film, which also won Best Picture, is a biographical drama about the life of Manhattan Project and so-called “father of the atomic bomb” physicist Robert J. Oppenheimer.

Nolan’s film not only claimed the highest honour but also swept a total of seven Oscars as Cillian Murphy became the first Irish person to win Best Actor for his lead role as the conflicted scientist.

Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos’ gothic comedy Poor Things followed, clinching four Oscars, with leading actress Emma Stone securing her second Academy Award for Best Actress. The depth of British talent was, however, recognised in film’s other wins for the Production Design as well as Makeup and Hairstyling teams, which saw British costume designer Holly Waddington and hair stylist Nadia Stacey recognised for their contributions.

Meanwhile, British directed film The Zone of Interest, a poignant exploration of World War Two and the Holocaust, claimed the Oscar for Best International Feature Film.

English director Jonathan Glazer used the platform to relay how the film forced viewers to confront “dehumanisation” and contemporary issues, specifically mentioning the war in Gaza and Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7.