The film has garnered 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Grande plays Glinda, Elphaba’s privileged counterpart, in this highly anticipated fantasy epic
The British Film Designers Guild (BFDG) celebrated its 14th Production Design Awards on Saturday, with Wicked and Conclave emerging as the big winners of the night. The awards, recognizing excellence in production design, saw Wicked take home the top prize for Best Production Design in a Major Motion Picture Fantasy, adding to the film’s already impressive haul of accolades, including BAFTA, Critics Choice, and Art Directors Guild (ADG) awards.
Directed by John M. Chu, Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, with Erivo’s portrayal of Elphaba, a misunderstood young woman with magical powers, earning her a nomination for Best Actress at the upcoming 2025 Academy Awards. The film has garnered 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Grande plays Glinda, Elphaba’s privileged counterpart, in this highly anticipated fantasy epic.
Another major winner was Conclave, directed by Edward Berger, which claimed the BFDG Award for Best Production Design in both the Feature Film Contemporary and Fantasy categories. Conclave, an adaptation of Robert Harris’ novel, has also dominated this year’s BAFTA Awards, where it was named Outstanding British Film and received 12 nominations, including Best Film, Director, and Actor.
The film, written by Peter Straughan, follows Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) as he navigates the covert election of a new Pope after the unexpected death of the beloved Pontiff. Locked in the Vatican with the Church’s most powerful figures, Lawrence uncovers a conspiracy that could shake the foundations of the Catholic Church. Conclave features an ensemble cast including Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini.
Conclave has also secured eight nominations for the 2025 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Fiennes.
Both Wicked and Conclave were celebrated for their outstanding production designs, which played a key role in bringing their immersive and captivating worlds to life, further solidifying their place in this year’s awards season.
