This year’s selection process stood out for “bold storytelling and unique takes” on everything from the geopolitical landscape to more personal stories, Bafta CEO Jane Millichip, told AFP.
“A lot of film-makers have not pulled their punches on quite big subjects,” she said, noting in particular Sinners, One Battle After Another, and Bugonia.
But she also commended “a group of really intimate, and personal films”, including Hamnet, I Swear and Sentimental Value.
Hamnet, a period drama in which William Shakespeare and his wife struggle to cope with the loss of their son in plague-ravaged Elizabethan England, secured 11 Bafta nominations and will also compete for best film.
Timothee Chalamet’s ping-pong drama Marty Supreme also snagged 11 nods, including in the best film category, while Norwegian dramedy Sentimental Value bagged eight nominations and is the final of the five Bafta best film contenders.
Although Sinners topped the Oscars nominations, One Battle was still strongly favoured in this year’s awards season, having won almost every precursor prize so far this awards season.
It reigned supreme at the Golden Globes earlier this month, winning best comedy, best director, best screenplay and best supporting actress, while Hamnet sprang a surprise by taking best drama film, beating out Sinners.
‘Really rich year’
At the Baftas, Yorgos Lanthimos (Bugonia), Chloe Zhao (Hamnet), Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme), Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value) and Ryan Coogler (Sinners) will compete for best director.
The leading actor shortlist features Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Jesse Plemons (Bugonia) and Robert Aramayo (I Swear).
As with the Oscars, Paul Mescal missed out on a nomination for his Hamnet performance.
Meanwhile, Oscar contender Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Emma Stone (Bugonia), Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value) and Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You) will vie for the leading actress gong.
I Swear – based on a true story about a Scottish man whose life was irrevocably changed by Tourette’s syndrome – was the most nominated British film, with five nods.
“It’s a really rich year and a fantastic year for British talents too,” Millichip said.
– Agence France-Presse