The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is poised to unveil its nominations for this year’s film awards on Wednesday, marking an essential milestone in an awards season renowned for its unpredictability and unexpected twists. The anticipation surrounding these nominations is heightened by the awards’ close relation to the Academy Awards, with last year witnessing a remarkable alignment—every winner from the top six categories was the same for both the BAFTAs and the Oscars.
This announcement of BAFTA nominations closely follows last week’s Golden Globe Awards, which notably recognized the Spanish-language musical “Emilia Pérez” for achieving the most accolades, while actress Demi Moore has emerged as a strong contender in the Best Actress category for her role in “The Substance,” a body horror film. Drawing significant attention, these honors are likely to shape currents within the broader awards landscape, setting the stage for the prestigious Oscar ceremony scheduled for March 2 in Los Angeles.
The BAFTA Film Awards ceremony will take place on February 16 at London’s Royal Festival Hall, and anticipation regarding the nominees remains high. This year, various films are generating buzz with pundits citing titles such as “Wicked,” “The Brutalist,” “Emilia Pérez,” “Anora,” “Gladiator II,” and “Conclave” as strong contenders for the coveted Best Picture award. Each of these films is seen as having a plausible path toward victory, contributing to the suspense around the nominations.
The shortlist of nominees will be announced after the recent Screen Actors Guild (SAG) nominations, which favored “Wicked” and delivered a surprise nomination for Pamela Anderson in her role as an aging Las Vegas performer in “The Last Showgirl.” The ever-dynamic atmosphere is exemplified by the fact that consensus regarding who will clinch this year’s Best Picture at the Oscars is notably absent, intensifying the discussion surrounding the BAFTA nominations.
Interestingly, the longlists released by BAFTA earlier this month included notable frontrunners but also highlighted several omissions, most strikingly the lack of acknowledgment for Angelina Jolie and Golden Globe winner Fernanda Torres. Additionally, family film “Paddington in Peru” surprisingly did not secure a spot in the newly created children’s and family film category. Nevertheless, the inclusion of many potential nominees leaves room for surprises when the final nominations are revealed.
As we delve into the specifics of this year’s eventual nominees, films like “Emilia Pérez,” which dramatically explores the life of a Mexican cartel leader transitioning into a woman, have taken a prominent lead based on its positive reception and numerous nominations. Trailing closely behind are “Conclave,” adapted from Robert Harris’s novel focusing on the intrigues of cardinals electing a new Pope, and “A Complete Unknown,” which narrates Bob Dylan’s rise to fame.
In close competition are notable mentions like “The Brutalist,” centered around a Hungarian architect’s post-war journey, and “The Substance,” highlighting a woman’s struggle with identity and beauty through a controversial drug. These films illustrate a strong mix of genres and themes vying for critical acclaim and recognition through BAFTA’s nomination process.
As discussions unfold, there remains a myriad of possibilities regarding possible surprises in the acting categories, especially given that BAFTA possesses the unique structure of having six nomination slots in each acting category, as opposed to the five traditionally seen at the Oscars. This could open pathways for notable performances—such as those from Demi Moore, who weaves a compelling narrative with “The Substance,” or Karla Sofía Gascón in “Emilia Pérez.”
Yet, despite the thrilling prospects, longlisted actors like Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Saoirse Ronan also stand a chance at earning nominations. In the Best Actor field, stalwart performances from Adrien Brody and Timothée Chalamet are anticipated to create notable conversations, while Denzel Washington, often recognized yet still seeking a BAFTA nomination, brings further intrigue.
Moreover, BAFTA’s alterations in voting methods—originally aiming to improve diversity—spark curiosity as the awards unveil nominations selected purely by BAFTA members this year, implying closer alignment with the general awards roster. Ultimately, this year’s BAFTA nominations are expected to reflect the dynamic, often unpredictable landscape of the film industry while paving the way for upcoming accolades at the Oscars.
