The Bafta Awards have come under fire, after all the winners at its film ceremony on Sunday were white.

The prestigious British event had a diverse set of nominees, with people belonging to ethnic minorities taking almost 40% of acting shortlist slots, but that did not translate into wins, with the 49 victors across all categories being white.

The organisation’s chairman Krishnendu Majumdar told newsmen before the ceremony that he wants to “to level the playing field”, but that recognition “has to be on merit”.

It comes three years after an outcry and subsequent reforms when all 20 acting nominees were white.

Bafta declined to comment on the lack of diversity among its winners, but noted the reforms introduced in 2020, including making voters see all longlisted films in the categories for which they vote.