Paul Thomas Anderson’s politically themed action thriller, “One Battle After Another,” is leading the race for the British Academy Film Awards with 14 nominations announced on Tuesday. This includes acting nominations for five of its cast members. Ryan Coogler’s blues-infused vampire epic, “Sinners,” closely follows with 13 nominations, while Chloé Zhao’s Shakespearean family drama, “Hamnet,” and Josh Safdie’s ping-pong adventure, “Marty Supreme,” each received 11 nominations. Guillermo Del Toro’s reimagining of “Frankenstein” and the Norwegian family drama “Sentimental Value” both garnered eight nominations, making them prominent 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.” Jane Millichip, the CEO of BAFTA, highlighted the significance of films like “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners,” which tackle substantial societal issues such as the moral complexities of activism and Black identity, while also acknowledging films that delve into the intimate dynamics of family relationships.
In the Best Leading Actor category, contenders include 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 tragicomedy “Bugonia.” The Best Leading Actress category features performances by Jessie Buckley in “Hamnet,” Rose Byrne in “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” Kate Hudson in “Song Sung Blue,” Chase Infiniti in “One Battle After Another,” Renate Reinsve in “Sentimental Value,” and Emma Stone in “Bugonia.”
Actors from “One Battle After Another,” Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, and Sean Penn, have all been nominated for their supporting roles. Additionally, The Associated Press received a nomination in the Best Documentary category for Mstyslav Chernov’s powerful portrayal of the Ukraine war, “2000 Meters to Andriivka,” co-produced with PBS Frontline.
The winners will be revealed at a ceremony on Feb. 22 in London, hosted by Alan Cumming. The BAFTA Film Awards often serve as a precursor to the Hollywood Academy Awards, which are scheduled for March 15 this year. Notably, this year’s Oscar nominations were announced before the BAFTAs, with “Sinners” securing a record 16 nominations and “One Battle After Another” following with 13.
The BAFTAs have recognized performers overlooked by the Oscars, such as supporting actor nominees Paul Mescal for “Hamnet” and Odessa A’zion for “Marty Supreme.” The awards also highlight British cinema with a dedicated category for Best British Film, featuring nominees like “The Ballad of Wallis Island,” “Pillion,” “I Swear,” and “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.”
Diversity remains a focal point for the BAFTAs, with initiatives in recent years aimed at increasing inclusivity. Notably, changes have been introduced to the voting process to ensure a more diverse slate of nominees. Among the Best Director nominees are Chloé Zhao, Paul Thomas Anderson, Josh Safdie, Ryan Coogler, Yorgos Lanthimos for “Bugonia,” and Joachim Trier for “Sentimental Value,” with a quarter of the directing nominees being women across all categories.
The BAFTA Rising Star Award will be chosen through public vote from a shortlist that includes Infiniti, Aramayo, “Sinners” star Miles Caton, and British actors Archie Madekwe and Posy Sterling.