Paul Thomas Anderson’s politically themed action movie, “One Battle After Another,” is leading the pack at the British Academy Film Awards with 14 nominations, which were announced on Tuesday. The film has earned recognition in various categories, including five nominations for its cast members.
Following closely behind is Ryan Coogler’s vampire epic, “Sinners,” with 13 nominations, positioning it as a strong contender at the British equivalent of the Oscars. Additionally, Chloé Zhao’s family drama “Hamnet” and Josh Safdie’s “Marty Supreme” have both garnered 11 nominations each.
Guillermo Del Toro’s reimagining of “Frankenstein” and the Norwegian family drama “Sentimental Value” have each received eight nominations, completing the group of top contenders for both the British and Hollywood Academy Awards.
The nominees for the best film category include “One Battle After Another,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “Sinners,” and “Sentimental Value.”
Jane Millichip, the chief executive of BAFTA, highlighted that the nominations reflect films like “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners,” which delve into significant societal issues such as the moral complexities of activism and Black identity, as well as films that explore the intimate dynamics of family relationships.
The competition for the best leading actor features notable names like Robert Aramayo for his portrayal in the biographical drama “I Swear,” Timothée Chalamet in “Marty Supreme,” Leonardo DiCaprio in “One Battle After Another,” Ethan Hawke in the Broadway biopic “Blue Moon,” Michael B. Jordan in “Sinners,” and Jesse Plemons in the dystopian tragicomedy “Bugonia.”
In the leading actress category, Jessie Buckley is a standout contender for her role as Agnes Hathaway in “Hamnet.” Competing against her are Rose Byrne for “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” Kate Hudson for “Song Sung Blue,” Chase Infiniti for “One Battle After Another,” Renate Reinsve for “Sentimental Value,” and Emma Stone for “Bugonia.”
Actors Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, and Sean Penn from “One Battle After Another” have all been nominated for their supporting performances.
The Associated Press received a nomination in the best documentary category for Mstyslav Chernov’s powerful Ukraine war portrayal, “2000 Meters to Andriivka,” a collaborative project with PBS Frontline.
The winners will be revealed at a ceremony on Feb. 22 in London, hosted by actor Alan Cumming. The EE BAFTA Film Awards often serve as a precursor to the Hollywood Academy Awards, which are scheduled for March 15 this year.
This year, the BAFTA nominations were preceded by the announcement of Oscar nominations, with “Sinners” leading with 16 nominations, followed by “One Battle After Another” with 13.
The BAFTA nominations also acknowledge performers who may have been overlooked by the Oscars, such as supporting actors Paul Mescal for “Hamnet” and Odessa A’zion for “Marty Supreme.”
The BAFTAs also spotlight British cinema, with a separate category for best British film. Nominees in this category include “The Ballad of Wallis Island,” “Pillion,” “I Swear,” and “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.”
Most BAFTA winners are chosen by the academy’s 8,500 industry professionals, with the Rising Star Award being the only category determined by public vote. This year’s rising star contenders include Infiniti, Aramayo, Miles Caton from “Sinners,” and British actors Archie Madekwe and Posy Sterling.
In line with the industry’s push for diversity, the British film academy has implemented changes to promote inclusivity. The introduction of a longlist round before final nominees are selected aims to diversify the nomination pool. Notably, Chloé Zhao is the sole female nominee in the best director category, alongside other talented filmmakers.
Across all categories, including documentaries and shorts, 25% of the directing nominees are women, reflecting a positive shift towards greater gender representation in the film industry.