'1917' wins best film, best director BAFTAs for Sam Mendes

Sam Mendes is a favourite to win the 'Best Director' award for 1917. (Photo: AFP photo/Adrian Dennis)

Sweeping World War I odyssey movie 1917 won the best film Bafta on Sunday, and earned Sam Mendes the coveted award for best director, a double triumph for the movie ahead of the Oscars.

It beat The Irishman, Joker, Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood and Parasite, while Mendes triumphed over Martin Scorsese (The Irishman), Todd Phillips (Joker), Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood) and Bong Joon-Ho (Parasite) for best director.