LONDON — The thrilling film “Conclave,” featuring Ralph Fiennes as a cardinal responsible for electing a new pope, has secured the lead with 12 nominations for the upcoming British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA), narrowly ahead of the boundary-pushing musical “Emilia Perez,” which garnered 11 nominations.
Amidst the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, which have left an impression on many in the film community, Wednesday’s BAFTA nomination announcement carried a somber tone.
“I want to begin on behalf of everyone at BAFTA by expressing our thoughts for colleagues, friends, and all those impacted by the devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles region,” actor Will Sharpe stated prior to revealing the nominees alongside fellow actor Mia McKenna-Bruce.
BAFTA chair Sara Putt refrained from commenting on whether the wildfires would affect the BAFTA ceremony, slated for February 16 at the Royal Festival Hall in central London, with Scottish actor David Tennant as host.
“It’s still a month away, and it’s premature to speculate on that,” Putt remarked.
Among the films contending for the coveted Best Film award are “Conclave,” “Emilia Perez,” the 215-minute postwar epic “The Brutalist,” the award-winning film “Anora,” and the biopic of Bob Dylan titled “A Complete Unknown.”
“The Brutalist” received nine nominations, including one for actor Adrien Brody, who will compete against Fiennes and Timothee Chalamet, the latter portraying a young Dylan in “A Complete Unknown.”
Other notable actors nominated include Hugh Grant for his unsettling performance in the horror film “Heretic,” Colman Domingo for his role in “Sing Sing,” a drama based on real-life events, and Sebastian Stan, who portrays a certain real estate mogul in “The Apprentice.”
Both “Anora” and the anticipated sci-fi sequel “Dune: Part Two” received seven nominations each, while “Wicked” and “Kneecap,” an Irish-language hip-hop drama, garnered six nominations.
The EE BAFTA Film Awards, often seen as the British equivalent of the Academy Awards, will be closely monitored for potential indicators of Oscar winners on March 3.
As awards season unfolds, “Conclave” hopes to capitalize on its nominations’ momentum.
Director Edward Berger, hailing from Germany, expressed his excitement regarding the film’s recognition, including a nomination for himself.
“At its heart, Conclave explores themes of doubt, which mirror our journey in filmmaking,” he noted. “Success relies on a close-knit team striving for an elusive goal: perfection.”
Putt praised the impressive diversity among the nominations this year, emphasizing the representation of six distinct genres within the Best Film category.
“There are some truly captivating stories reflected in this year’s selection, showcasing a magnificent range of filmmaking,” she commented.
Moreover, she pointed out that 14 out of 24 acting nominations were awarded to first-time nominees, indicating a shift in the landscape. The actress to win the Best Actress award will also be a first-time BAFTA winner.
Demi Moore stands a chance in the lead actress category for her performance in the body horror film “The Substance.”
Other prominent nominees in the Best Supporting Actress category include Selena Gomez and Ariana Grande for their roles in “Emilia Perez” and “Wicked,” respectively.
In an effort to enhance diversity, the BAFTA has implemented significant changes in recent years. In 2020, for the seventh consecutive year, no women were nominated for Best Director, and all nominees in the lead and supporting categories were white.
The voting process has been revised to include a longlist round prior to the final selection, which involves the votes of an 8,000-strong membership of industry professionals.
One noticeable omission from Wednesday’s nominations was Denzel Washington, who had previously been included in the longlist for his role in Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” as a scheming proprietor of gladiators.
