Bafta Film Awards: Leading Nominations and Notable Surprises

The politically charged thriller ‘One Battle After Another’ dominates this year’s Bafta Film Awards with 14 nominations, closely followed by the vampire-horror ‘Sinners’ with 13, and both ‘Hamnet’ and the table-tennis biopic ‘Marty Supreme’ with 11 each. Timothée Chalamet and Jessie Buckley, seen as Oscar frontrunners, secure repeat nominations at the Baftas. The awards highlight additional British talent, featuring categories for outstanding British film and debut by a British writer, director, or producer. British indie films like ‘I Swear,’ ‘Pillion,’ ‘H is for Hawk,’ and ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ are recognized alongside global blockbusters. Alan Cumming will host the ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall on February 22. Several Oscar-nominated actors, including Amy Madigan and Delroy Lindo, were absent from the Bafta shortlist, while other performers like Jesse Plemons and Odessa A’Zion gained recognition. Notably, ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ was ineligible for Bafta nominations due to its direct-to-Netflix release in the UK. Other films recognized include ‘Frankenstein,’ ‘Sentimental Value,’ and Brad Pitt’s ‘F1,’ with multiple technical nominations. The director category largely mirrors the Oscars, with Yorgos Lanthimos added due to Bafta’s additional slot. Overall, the nominations reflect both international successes and emerging British talent, offering a broader perspective than the Oscars.