New Zealanders bag two Bafta Film Awards
Wētā FX crew won for their work on Avatar: Fire and Ash and Kiwi Kate Hawley won the Bafta for Best Costume Design for Frankenstein.
New Zealand contenders have taken home two prizes at the Bafta Film Awards in London on Monday morning.
Wētā FX has bagged the prize for its work on Avatar: Fire and Ash.
The New Zealand visual effects company was represented by Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett, who flew in from Wellington for the event at the Royal Festival Hall.
From left: Eric Saindon, Joe Letteri, Dan Barrett and Richie Baneham of Wētā FX with their Bafta award for their work on Avatar: Fire and Ash.
Supplied / Wētā FX
"This recognition is a testament to the extraordinary dedication, artistry, and innovation of our entire visual effects team and the many collaborators who helped bring this world to life," the group said in a statement following their win over major contenders including F1, How to Train Your Dragon and Frankenstein.
More than 1200 Wētā FX artists contributed to the project, delivering more than 90 percent of the film's visual effects. Only about 11 seconds did not contain special effects.
This is Letteri’s sixth Bafta win and Saindon and Barrett’s second. All three previously received the award for Avatar: The Way of Water in 2022, and Letteri for Avatar in 2009.
Kiwi costume designer Kate Hawley won the Bafta for best costume design in recognition of her work on Frankenstein.
Mia Goth as Elizabeth in Frankenstein.
Ken Woroner/Netflix
Hawley beat designs from films Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Sinners and Wicked: For Good.
It was the second award nomination for the former Massey University graduate, who is also up for an Oscar.
New Zealand costume designer Kate Hawley poses with the award for Best costume design for 'Frankenstein' during the BAFTA British Academy Film Awards ceremony in London, on 22 February, 2026.
AFP / Justin Tallis
In December, Hawley was named as the British Fashion Council's inaugural Costume Designer of the Year for her work on Frankenstein.
The event is hosted by Traitors host Alan Cumming. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another led the Bafta charge with 14 nominations, while Sinners followed close behind with 13 nods. Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet and Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme each had 11 nominations.
The Baftas and the Actor Awards (formerly known as SAG) next Sunday are the last major awards shows ahead of the Oscars on 15 March.
