As the cast of “Conclave” descended steps leading to backstage at the Shrine Auditorium, they got a fresh round of applause from staff and

Timothée Chalamet won the best actor prize at the Screen Actors Guild Award on Sunday, while the political thriller “Conclave” took home the best ensemble cast prize, in a set of surprise wins that have upended predictions for the top prizes at next week’s Oscar Awards.

With victories at both the SAG and BAFTA Awards — two critical precursors — the Focus Features drama enters Oscar night in a strong position. This mirrors the trajectory of “Shakespeare in Love” (1998),