Paul Thomas Anderson’s politically-themed thriller movie, “One Battle After Another,” leads the pack at the British Academy Film Awards with 14 nominations, which were revealed on Tuesday. Not far behind is Ryan Coogler’s blues-infused vampire epic, “Sinners,” with 13 nominations, along with Chloé Zhao’s family drama, “Hamnet,” and Josh Safdie’s ping-pong adventure, “Marty Supreme,” each receiving 11 nominations. Guillermo Del Toro’s reimagined “Frankenstein” and the Norwegian family drama, “Sentimental Value,” also made a strong showing with eight nominations each, making them top contenders for both the British and Hollywood Academy Awards.
The nominees for Best Film include “One Battle After Another,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “Sinners,” and “Sentimental Value.” BAFTA chief executive Jane Millichip commended the nominated films for addressing significant societal issues and exploring the complexities of activism and Black identity, as well as delving into the intricacies of family relationships.
The competition in the Best Leading Actor category features Robert Aramayo for his portrayal in the biographical drama “I Swear,” Timothée Chalamet for “Marty Supreme,” Leonardo DiCaprio for “One Battle After Another,” Ethan Hawke for the Broadway biopic “Blue Moon,” Michael B. Jordan for “Sinners,” and Jesse Plemons for the dystopian comedy “Bugonia.” In the Best Leading Actress category, contenders include Jessie Buckley for her role in “Hamnet,” Rose Byrne for “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” Kate Hudson for “Song Sung Blue,” Chase Infiniti for “One Battle After Another,” Renate Reinsve for “Sentimental Value,” and Emma Stone for “Bugonia.”
Supporting actors from “One Battle After Another,” including Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, and Sean Penn, have also received nominations. The Associated Press was recognized in the Best Documentary category for Mstyslav Chernov’s poignant portrayal of the Ukraine war in “2000 Meters to Andriivka,” a co-production with PBS Frontline.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony on February 22 in London, hosted by actor Alan Cumming. The British awards often serve as a precursor to the Hollywood Academy Awards, which will take place this year on March 15. Notably, this year’s Oscar nominations were announced prior, with “Sinners” securing a record 16 nominations, closely followed by “One Battle After Another” with 13 nods.
The BAFTAs have also highlighted performers overlooked by the Oscars, such as supporting actors Paul Mescal for “Hamnet” and Odessa A’zion for “Marty Supreme.” Additionally, the BAFTAs feature a separate category for Best British Film, with nominees including “The Ballad of Wallis Island,” “Pillion,” “I Swear,” and “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.”
Most BAFTA winners are chosen by industry professionals from the U.K. academy, with the Rising Star Award being decided by public vote from a shortlist of nominees. This year’s rising star contenders include Infiniti, Aramayo, Miles Caton from “Sinners,” and British actors Archie Madekwe and Posy Sterling.
In recent years, the British film academy, like other major awards, has made efforts to enhance diversity. Changes have been implemented to address gender and racial diversity disparities, aiming for a more inclusive selection process. Chloé Zhao is the sole female nominee in the Best Director category, alongside other talented directors. Overall, 25 percent of the directing nominees, spanning all categories, are women.
