Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson won the prize for Outstanding Screenplay at last night's BAFTA ceremony for Licorice Pizza, with Alana Haim and Jonny Greenwood accepting the award in his absence.

“Paul is gonna be very excited to win this – not least because it means I’ve been forced to come and give a very awkward and inarticulate speech on his behalf, which he will find very funny,” said Greenwood. “Paul is an amazing director and an amazing screenwriter, and he even films lots of his films. And if he didn’t sing like a donkey, he’d probably do the music as well. But he’s gonna be very happy to see this.”

“This is for the [San Fernando] Valley [in Los Angeles]. I love you, Paul!” Alana Haim added.

An excellent acceptance speech on Paul's behalf from Jonny Greenwood and Alana Haim! 😂 #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/DMy8HgwOSd

— BAFTA (@BAFTA) March 13, 2022

The Los Angeles-born singer recently made her feature film debut in Anderson's sun-drenched tale of young love in 1970s California, Licorice Pizza. Anderson chose Alana for the film’s female lead after directing several music videos for Haim.

“No other director could have gotten the performance that he got out of me because I trust him,” Alana recently said. “He knew I could do it way, way before I knew I could do it.”

Jonny Greenwood made his first collaboration with Anderson in 2007 when he wrote the score for the writer/director's epic period drama There Will Be Blood. Since then, Greenwood has balanced film composing with his work for alt/rock band Radiohead.

He has received two Academy Award nominations for his scores, including Anderson’s 2017 film Phantom Thread and most recently for this year's The Power of the Dog.

Licorice Pizza was also nominated last night for Best Film, Best Editing, and a Best Director nomination for Anderson.

The film beat out Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast in the outstanding screenplay category last night but Branagh would later take home the award for Outstanding British Film.

Upon accepting the award Branagh said: "Thank you to British cinema audiences for watching in tonnage a UK and Irish cinema film at UK and Ireland cinemas. This is a black and white film about The Troubles. It was not an easy pitch, but when the great talent in this room dreams up anything similarly unlikely to make or to finance - please remember if you build it, they will come.

"All hail the streaming revolution, but all hail the big screen too. It's alive, and long may they live together.

Kenneth Branagh celebrates Belfast, which has won Outstanding British Film 🎉 #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/OsvlYthcpn

— BAFTA (@BAFTA) March 13, 2022

Licorice Pizza and Belfast will both be competing for several prizes at this year's Academy Awards including Best Original Screenplay, Best Director and Best Picture.

Take a look at the full list of winners from last night's BAFTAs here.