The papal thriller Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes as a cardinal navigating the election of a new pope, leads this year’s British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) nominations with 12 nods. Close behind is the genre-defying musical Emilia Perez, which garnered 11 nominations.
The announcement on Wednesday was marked by a somber acknowledgment of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, a tragedy at the forefront of the film industry’s thoughts. Actor Will Sharpe, presenting the nominations alongside Mia McKenna-Bruce, expressed BAFTA’s solidarity with those affected.
“Before we begin, on behalf of everyone at BAFTA, our thoughts are with colleagues, friends, peers, and all those impacted by the wildfires in the Los Angeles area,” Sharpe said.
Variety and First-Time Nominees Dominate BAFTA Race
The five films vying for Best Film are Conclave, Emilia Perez, the postwar epic The Brutalist, Palme d’Or winner Anora, and Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown.
The Brutalist secured nine nominations, including Best Actor for Adrien Brody. He faces stiff competition from Ralph Fiennes, Timothée Chalamet (as the young Dylan in A Complete Unknown), Hugh Grant (for his role in horror film Heretic), Colman Domingo (real-life prison drama Sing Sing), and Sebastian Stan, who portrays Donald Trump in The Apprentice.
Sci-fi epic Dune: Part Two, musical Wicked, and Anora each received seven nominations, while A Complete Unknown and Irish-language hip-hop drama Kneecap earned six.
BAFTA Chair Sara Putt highlighted the diversity in this year’s nominations. “There’s a real glorious range of filmmaking this year,” she said, noting that six genres are represented in the Best Film category. Additionally, 14 of the 24 acting nominees are first-timers, with the Best Actress winner guaranteed to be a new recipient.
Demi Moore received a nomination for her performance in the body horror film The Substance. Best Supporting Actress nominees include Selena Gomez and Ariana Grande for their roles in Emilia Perez and Wicked, respectively.
Addressing Diversity and Inclusion
Recent years have seen BAFTA implement changes to improve diversity in nominations. After criticism in 2020 for the lack of female nominees in the Best Director category, a longlist voting round was introduced to ensure a broader range of voices.
Despite these efforts, notable absences include Denzel Washington, who was longlisted for his role in Gladiator II but did not make the final cut.
Ceremony and Reflections Amid Tragedy
The awards ceremony is scheduled for February 16 at London’s Royal Festival Hall, hosted by Scottish actor David Tennant. When asked about the potential impact of the LA wildfires on the event, Putt said it was too early to speculate.
Edward Berger, director of Conclave, expressed gratitude for the film’s nominations but acknowledged the bittersweet timing. “It’s a strange time to celebrate when so many are suffering. To feel their strength is very inspiring,” he said.
As the BAFTAs approach, all eyes will also be on the Oscars, set for March 3, where these films and talents will likely contend for further recognition.
