The BAFTA Film Awards, recognized as one of the most prestigious events in the film industry, is set to take place on February 16 at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The ceremony, which will be hosted by David Tennant, is part of the awards season that honors the finest projects in the seventh art. Leading the nominations selected by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts is Conclave, a thriller directed by Edward Berger that explores the ethical dilemmas surrounding a cardinal’s election of a new pope. This film, based on the novel by Robert Harris, has garnered a total of 12 nominations, including categories for Best Director, Best Actor for Ralph Fiennes, and Best Supporting Actress for Isabella Rossellini. The film aims to replicate the success of All Quiet on the Western Front, which also directed by Berger, won seven awards in 2023.
In second place with 11 nominations is Emilia Pérez, a musical directed by Jacques Audiard that tells the story of a Mexican cartel leader who is transgender. Karla Sofía Gascón is nominated for Best Actress, while Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña are recognized in the Best Supporting Actress category. The historical drama The Brutalist, directed by Brady Corbet and featuring Adrien Brody, rounds out the top three with nine nominations.
Additionally, among the 24 actors nominated, 14 are competing for the first time. Notable first-time nominees include Mikey Madison for Anora, Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain, and Yura Borisov. However, there were significant surprises with notable omissions. Denzel Washington did not receive a nomination for his role in Gladiator II, and Nicole Kidman was left out for her performance in Babygirl, directed by Luca Guadagnino.
Furthermore, Coralie Fargeat, the director of Substance, is the only woman nominated in the directing category, despite the presence of other female filmmakers on the preliminary longlists. The nominees for Best Film include The Brutalist, Complete Unknown, British Bird, Blitz 2, Hard Truths, Kneecap, Love Lies Bleeding, Outrun, and Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. The nominations for Best Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer feature Hoard, Kneecap, Monkey Man, Santosh, and Sister Midnight.
In the categories for Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay, the nominees include Substance and Nickel Boys for adapted, while Sing is nominated for original. The nominees for Best Animated Feature include Flow, Kensuke’s Kingdom, and Wild Robot. Dune: Part Two and Wicked are also in contention, along with The Last Showgirl and Apprentice.
In the short film categories, nominees include Adios, Mog’s Christmas, Wonder to Wonder, Stomach Bug, and Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing. The nominations for Best Cinematography include Perez for Nosferatu, while Best Costume Design features Black Box Diaries, Daughters, and No Other Land. The nominees for Best Documentary include Super/Man: Christopher Reeve Story and Will Harper.
In the technical categories, nominations for Best Editing, Best Makeup and Hair, Best Score, Best Production Sound, and Best Special Effects include Better Man, Planet of the Apes, and others. Additionally, Warwick Davis, known for his role in Harry Potter, will be honored with the Fellowship award this year for his contributions to film and television, as well as his activism on behalf of individuals living with dwarfism.
