LONDON — Papal thriller “Conclave ” leads the race—just—for the British Academy Film Awards, with nominations in 12 categories, one more than the genre-busting trans musical ” Emilia Perez.”
But with the wildfires in Los Angeles over the past week fresh in the minds of everyone in the movie industry, Wednesday’s announcement of the latest BAFTA nominations was understandably subdued.
“We are very much thinking of our colleagues, friends, community over there,” BAFTA chair Sara Putt told The Associated Press. “It’s devastating what’s going on.”
She wouldn’t be drawn on how the fires will impact the BAFTA ceremony, which is due to take place on Feb. 16.
“The ceremony is a month away, it would be inappropriate and far too early to say anything about that,” Putt said.
She lauded the list of nominations, particularly its variety, noting that six different genres were represented on the best film list. She also highlighted that 14 of the 24 nominations in the acting categories were first-timers, and that whoever wins the best actress award will be a first-time BAFTA winner.
“There’s some really exciting stories in there and just a real glorious range of film-making this year,” she said.
Other leading contenders include the 215-minute postwar epic “The Brutalist,” with nine nominations, including best film and leading actor for Adrien Brody. The Palme d’Or-winning “Anora,” the sci-fi epic “Dune: Part Two” and “Wicked” received seven nominations apiece. The Bob Dylan biopic “ A Complete Unknown ” received six nominations, including for its lead, Timothée Chalomet. “Kneecap,” the Irish-language hip-hop drama has also received six nominations.
The prizes — officially called the EE BAFTA Film Awards — are Britain’s equivalent of Hollywood’s Academy Awards and will be watched closely for hints of who may win at the Oscars on March 3.
Like other major movie awards, Britain’s film academy has introduced changes in recent years to increase diversity. In 2020, no women were nominated as best director for the seventh year running and all 20 nominees in the lead and supporting performer categories were white.
The voting process was rejigged to add a longlist round in the selection before the final nominees are voted on by the academy’s 8,000-strong membership of industry professionals.
See the full list of nominations, here:
LEADING ACTORAdrien Brody – The BrutalistTimothee Chalamet – A Complete UnknownColman Domingo – Sing SingRalph Fiennes – ConclaveHugh Grant – HereticSebastian Stan – The Apprentice
SUPPORTING ACTORYura Borisov – AnoraKieran Culkin – A Real PainClarence Maclin – Sing SingEdward Norton – A Complete UnknownGuy Pearce – The BrutalistJeremy Strong – The Apprentice
LEADING ACTRESSCynthia Erivo – WickedKarla Sofia Gascon – Emilia PerezMarianne Jean-Baptiste – Hard TruthsMikey Madison – AnoraDemi Moore – The SubstanceSaoirse Ronan – The Outrun
SUPPORTING ACTRESSSelena Gomez – Emilia PerezAriana Grande – WickedFelicity Jones – The BrutalistJamie Lee Curtis – The Last ShowgirlIsabella Rossellini – ConclaveZoe Saldana – Emilia Perez
BEST FILMAnoraThe BrutalistA Complete UnknownConclaveEmilia Perez
OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILMBirdBlitzConclaveGladiator IIHard TruthsKneecapLeeLove Lies BleedingThe OutrunWallace And Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAYAnora – Sean BakerThe Brutalist – Brady Corbet & Mona FastvoldKneecap – Rich Peppiatt, Naoise O Caireallain, Liam Og O Hannaidh, JJ O DochartaighA Real Pain – Jesse EisenbergThe Substance – Coralie Fargeat
ADAPTED SCREENPLAYA Complete Unknown – James Mangold and Jay CocksConclave – Peter StraughanEmilia Perez – Jacques AudiardNickel Boys – RaMell Ross and Joslyn BarnesSing Sing – Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence ‘Divine Eye’ Maclin, John ‘Divine G’ Whitfield
OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCERHoard – Luna Carmoon (director/ writer)Kneecap – Rich Peppiatt (director, writer)Monkey Man – Dev Patel (director)Santosh – Sandhya Suri (director, writer), James Bowsher (producer), Balthazar de Ganay (producer)Sister Midnight – Karan Kandhari (director, writer)
FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGEAll We Imagine As LightEmilia PerezI’m Still HereKneecapThe Seed Of The Sacred Fig
DOCUMENTARYBlack Box DiariesDaughtersNo Other LandSuper/Man: The Christopher Reeve StoryWill & Harper
ANIMATED FILMFlowInside Out 2Wallace And Gromit: Vengeance Most FowlThe Wild Robot
CHILDREN’S & FAMILY FILMFlowKensuke’s KingdomWallace And Gromit: Vengeance Most FowlThe Wild Robot
DIRECTORAnora – Sean BakerThe Brutalist – Brady CorbetConclave – Edward BergerDune: Part Two – Denis VilleneuveEmilia Perez – Jacques AudiardThe Substance – Coralie Fargeat
EDITINGAnoraConclaveDune: Part TwoEmilia PerezKneecap
CASTINGAnora – Sean Baker, Samantha QuanThe Apprentice – Stephanie Gorin, Carmen CubaA Complete Unknown – Yesi RamirezConclave – Nina Gold, Martin WareKneecap – Carla Stronge
CINEMATOGRAPHYThe Brutalist – Lol CrawleyConclave – Stephanie FontaineDune: Part Two – Greig FraserEmilia Perez – Paul GuilhaumeNosferatu – Jarin Blaschke
PRODUCTION DESIGNThe BrutalistConclaveDune: Part TwoNosferatuWicked
SOUNDBlitzDune: Part TwoGladiator IIThe SubstanceWicked
SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTSBetter ManDune: Part TwoGladiator IIKingdom Of The Planet Of The ApesWicked
COSTUME DESIGNBlitzA Complete UnknownConclaveNosferatuWicked
MAKE-UP & HAIRDune: Part TwoEmilia PerezNosferatuThe SubstanceWicked
ORIGINAL SCOREThe BrutalistConclaveEmilia PerezNosferatuThe Wild Robot
BRITISH SHORT ANIMATIONAdiosMog’s ChristmasWander To Wonder
BRITISH SHORT FILMThe Flowers Stand Silently, WitnessingMarionMilkRock, Paper, ScissorsStomach Bug
EE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)Marisa AbelaJharrel JeromeDavid JonssonMikey MadisonNabhaan Rizwan
