Paul Thomas Anderson’s politically themed action movie, “One Battle After Another,” is leading the pack in nominations for the British Academy Film Awards, with a total of 14 nods. This includes recognition for five of its actors. Following closely behind is Ryan Coogler’s vampire epic, “Sinners,” which has secured 13 nominations, while Chloé Zhao’s family tragedy, “Hamnet,” and Josh Safdie’s ping-pong adventure, “Marty Supreme,” each received 11 nominations.
Guillermo Del Toro’s reimagining of “Frankenstein” and the Norwegian drama “Sentimental Value” have both earned eight nominations, making them part of the top contenders for both the British and Hollywood Academy Awards. The nominees for Best Film include “One Battle After Another,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “Sinners,” and “Sentimental Value.”
BAFTA chief executive Jane Millichip highlighted the significance of films like “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners,” which address major societal issues and themes such as activism and Black identity, alongside movies that delve into intimate family relationships.
In the Best Leading Actor category, contenders include Robert Aramayo for “I Swear,” Timothée Chalamet for “Marty Supreme,” Leonardo DiCaprio for “One Battle After Another,” Ethan Hawke for “Blue Moon,” Michael B. Jordan for “Sinners,” and Jesse Plemons for “Bugonia.” The Best Leading Actress category features performances by Jessie Buckley, Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Chase Infiniti, Renate Reinsve, and Emma Stone.
Supporting performers from “One Battle After Another,” including Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, and Sean Penn, have also received nominations. The Associated Press was recognized in the Best Documentary category for “2000 Meters to Andriivka.”
The winners will be announced at a ceremony on February 22 in London, hosted by actor Alan Cumming. The BAFTA Film Awards often serve as an indicator of potential winners at the Hollywood Academy Awards. Notably, this year, the nominations for the Oscars were revealed first, with “Sinners” leading with 16 nominations, followed by “One Battle After Another” with 13 nominations.
The BAFTAs have acknowledged performers overlooked by the Oscars, such as Paul Mescal and Odessa A’zion. The awards also feature a category for Best British Film, with nominees including “The Ballad of Wallis Island,” “Pillion,” “I Swear,” and “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.”
The British film academy has made efforts to promote diversity, with changes in the nomination process to enhance inclusivity. Notably, Chloé Zhao is the sole female nominee in the Best Director category. Overall, the BAFTAs have taken steps to address gender and racial diversity in their nominations.
