LONDON (AP) — Those winning a prize at the upcoming British Academy Film Awards will bag a coveted bronze mask trophy — and get a bit of an arm workout taking it home.
Along with the honor of being named the best of the year in the industry, winners at the BAFTA ceremony on Feb. 22 will be awarded one of the dozens of the 3-kilogram (6.6-pound) prizes.
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A completed British Academy Film Awards mask sits on a workbench at the FSE Foundry in Braintree, England on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
A British Academy Film Awards mask is polished as part of the process to create BAFTA masks at FSE Foundry in Braintree, England on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Furnace workers pour molten metal as part of the process to create BAFTA masks at FSE Foundry in Braintree, England on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
A furnace worker pour molten metal as part of the process to create BAFTA masks at FSE Foundry in Braintree, England on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Completed British Academy Film Awards masks at the FSE Foundry in Braintree, England on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
This year the cast and crew of “One Battle After Another,” “Sinners,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” and “Sentimental Value” are in the running for the trophies at the EE BAFTA ceremony, to be held at London's Royal Festival Hall.
As with many things in show business, all that glitters is not gold. The BAFTA masks are made of phosphor bronze, polished to a mirror finish that will reflect the happy face of its new owner.
Craftsmen at the AATi Foundry in Braintree, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of London, use a sandcasting technique to make about 350 bronze trophies each year for all the BAFTA ceremonies — covering the film, television and gaming industries.
They are created in batches, and making one from start to finish takes around a week, the foundry's director Hugh Bisset said Tuesday.
The process starts with a pattern by the tooling team, often out of timber or 3D printing. That tool moves to the molding team which uses sand to make two recessed impressions of the mask, one each side. They are then closed together, ready for molten hot bronze — up to 1,200 degrees Celsius (2,192 Fahrenheit) — to be poured into it.
The metal takes about three or four hours to cool down, when it can then be removed from the sand. The masks' surfaces look dull and a bit rough around the edges at this stage, but after fettling, threading and polishing they are ready to be assembled before being checked over extremely carefully.
Bisset says it’s important that the masks are shiny and have no polish left on them.
“The thing I’m always conscious of is that these amazing actors and actresses, they pick up their awards and my big concern is that a smudge of polish will end up over their lovely, beautiful white dress," he said. “There’s lots of things we need to think about.”
Bisset reckons the diligence and care that his skilled team puts into the making of the masks reflects the hard work of the winning filmmakers and movie stars.
And while it’s still unknown if favorites Jessie Buckley, Timothée Chalamet and Teyana Taylor will get the glory on Sunday, whoever does win will take home something worth more than its heavy weight in bronze.
“There’s a lot of metal in it," but each mask also has “a lot of time and love being put into it," Bisset said.
A completed British Academy Film Awards mask sits on a workbench at the FSE Foundry in Braintree, England on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
A British Academy Film Awards mask is polished as part of the process to create BAFTA masks at FSE Foundry in Braintree, England on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Furnace workers pour molten metal as part of the process to create BAFTA masks at FSE Foundry in Braintree, England on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
A furnace worker pour molten metal as part of the process to create BAFTA masks at FSE Foundry in Braintree, England on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Completed British Academy Film Awards masks at the FSE Foundry in Braintree, England on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Jazz brought in Jaren Jackson Jr. with an eye on accelerating the franchise's rebuilding process.
When the Jazz acquired the two-time All-Star in a trade with Memphis on Feb. 3, it sent a clear signal Utah is serious about moving closer to playoff contention next season. The Jazz envision Jackson forming a long-term frontcourt partnership with top scorer Lauri Markkanen that promises to create size and length mismatches against many opponents.
Jackson, who earned NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2023, embraces the idea of playing a pivotal role in helping Utah finally make the transition from lottery team to future playoff contender.
“My goal is to come here and win a championship here,” Jackson said before his home debut for Utah against Sacramento on Wednesday. “I don’t really think my mind is geared toward anything else. That’s just kind of the mentality that I have. Then when you look at who we have, I really like what I see.”
Through his first three games since joining the Jazz, Jackson is averaging 22.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while playing 24 minutes per game. He had a team-high 23 points for the Jazz in a 121-93 victory over the Kings. His versatility already seems like an ideal fit for how Utah wants to construct its roster beyond this season.
Jazz coach Will Hardy said he’s eager to find out how pairing Jackson and Markkanen on the court will force opposing teams to adjust to combat their length, size, and individual playmaking abilities.
“The thing I’ve been most interested in – and it’s going to be one we have to continue to explore – is when he and Lauri play together, what are the matchups like?” Hardy said. “Who’s guarding who? What types of players are teams going to put on each of those guys?”
Jackson is already feeling comfortable with the Jazz, despite still being mostly unfamiliar with the playbook.
“This system is a different offense than anything I’ve played in before,” Jackson said. “It’s a system with a lot of movement, especially offensively, and I think I can bring a lot to the table. I’m learning a lot about it. Every day I learn a little bit more.”
His presence has already influenced significant defensive improvement from the Jazz.
In three games with Jackson, Utah is allowing 108 points per game while limiting opponents to 39.2% shooting from the field. Jackson has emerged as a vocal leader on the court, helping younger teammates figure things out quicker defensively.
“The thing I’ve been most impressed with in our short time together is his communication,” Hardy said. “He’s an elite defensive communicator.”
Playing Jackson has required a balancing act for Utah between making progress for the future and retaining a top-eight protected first-round pick in the 2026 NBA draft. The Jazz have drawn criticism on social media and elsewhere recently after Hardy elected not to play Jackson and Markkanen in the fourth quarter during the team’s recent road games against Orlando and Miami. The duo also did not play in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's blowout win over Sacramento.
Jackson takes his playing time in stride and said his main focus is on making the most out of whatever minutes he gets on the court.
“You just have to make an impact when you’re in the game,” said Jackson, while also noting he’s mentally capable of handling anything thrown at him in his eighth season in the league. “That’s what you have to focus on. If you focus on when you’re not out there, your gonna struggle as a player.”
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Utah Jazz forward Jaren Jackson Jr. reacts after making a three point basket against the Sacramento Kings during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)
Utah Jazz forward Jaren Jackson Jr. reacts after a play against the Sacramento Kings during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)
Utah Jazz forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (20) posts up against the Sacramento Kings during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)
Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) is fouled by Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, left, while going up to shoot, as center Jaren Jackson Jr. (20) helps defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Utah Jazz center Jaren Jackson Jr. (20) reacts after scoring a 3-point basket against the Orlando Magic during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Utah Jazz center Jaren Jackson Jr. (20) is defended by Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
