LONDON — The captivating film “Conclave,” featuring Ralph Fiennes in the role of a cardinal tasked with leading the election of a new pope, has emerged as the frontrunner for the British Academy Film Awards, garnering nominations in twelve categories, one more than the innovative musical “Emilia Perez.”
The recent wildfires in Los Angeles weighed heavily on the minds of those in the film industry during the announcement of the BAFTA nominations on Wednesday, resulting in a subdued atmosphere. Actor Will Sharpe kindly began the announcement by expressing solidarity with those affected by the devastating fires. “Before we proceed, on behalf of everyone at BAFTA, we extend our thoughts to colleagues, friends, and peers impacted by the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles,” he stated, accompanied by fellow actor Mia McKenna-Bruce.
BAFTA chair Sara Putt refrained from speculating whether the wildfires might influence the awards ceremony, set to take place on February 16 at the Royal Festival Hall in London, with David Tennant serving as host. “Since the ceremony is still a month away, it feels premature and inappropriate to comment on any potential impact,” she remarked.
The nominees contending for the best film award include “Conclave,” “Emilia Perez,” the 215-minute epic “The Brutalist,” the comedy/drama “Anora,” which received the prestigious Palme d’Or, and the biographical film “A Complete Unknown,” centered on Bob Dylan. “The Brutalist” secured nine nominations, featuring Adrien Brody in the lead actor category, where he faces stiff competition from Fiennes and Timothee Chalamet, who portrays the young Dylan in “A Complete Unknown.”
In the acting categories, Hugh Grant received a nomination for his chilling performance in the horror film “Heretic,” alongside Colman Domingo, nominated for the real-life prison drama “Sing Sing,” and Sebastian Stan, recognized for portraying a real estate mogul reminiscent of Donald Trump in “The Apprentice.” The films “Anora,” “Dune: Part Two,” and “Wicked” each garnered seven nominations, while both “A Complete Unknown” and the Irish-language hip-hop drama “Kneecap” achieved six nominations.
The EE BAFTA Film Awards, akin to the Academy Awards in Hollywood, will be closely watched for indications of potential winners for the Oscars on March 3. Putt highlighted the impressive variety among the nominations, emphasizing that six distinct genres were represented among the nominees for best film. “There’s a real plethora of fascinating stories and a marvelous range of filmmaking showcased this year,” she declared.
Notably, fourteen of the twenty-four nominations in acting categories feature first-time nominees, and the best actress award will assuredly go to someone who has not previously claimed a BAFTA trophy. Demi Moore is among the contenders with a nomination for her leading role in the body horror film “The Substance.” Additional notable nominations for best supporting actress include Selena Gomez and Ariana Grande for their respective roles in “Emilia Perez” and “Wicked.”
In an effort to enhance diversity, the British film academy has enacted reforms over recent years. Following a period where no women were nominated for best director and all twenty nominees in lead and supporting performances were white, changes were implemented to the voting process, introducing a longlist round before final nominations are determined by the academy’s membership of 8,000 industry professionals.
However, a notable omission from the shortlist was Denzel Washington, who had been listed on the longlist and received a nod for his portrayal of a bisexual owner of gladiators in Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II.” Edward Berger, the German-born director of “Conclave,” expressed his delight over the film’s numerous nominations, including one for himself; however, he acknowledged the unusual circumstances surrounding the celebrations at this difficult time. “To witness their resilience is truly inspiring,” he noted.
