LONDON (AP) — The Papal thriller “Conclave,” starring Ralph Fiennes as a cardinal presiding over the election of a new pope, has taken the lead in the race for the British Academy Film Awards with nominations in 12 categories, narrowly edging out the genre-defying trans musical “Emilia Perez,” which received one nomination less. However, against the backdrop of the recent devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, the atmosphere at Wednesday’s announcement of the latest BAFTA nominations was understandably subdued.
BAFTA chair Sara Putt expressed solidarity with those affected by the fires, stating, “We are very much thinking of our colleagues, friends, community over there. It’s devastating what’s going on.” When questioned about the potential impact of the fires on the upcoming BAFTA ceremony scheduled for Feb. 16, Putt maintained, “The ceremony is a month away, it would be inappropriate and far too early to say anything about that.”
Among the nominees for the prestigious Best Film award are “Conclave,” “Emilia Perez,” the postwar epic “The Brutalist,” the Palme d’Or-winning comedy/drama “Anora,” and the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown.” Notably, “The Brutalist” secured nine nominations, including a nod for leading actor Adrien Brody, who will be up against strong competition from Fiennes and Timothee Chalamet portraying the young Dylan in “A Complete Unknown.”
The Best Actor category also features Hugh Grant for his unsettling role in the horror film “Heretic,” Colman Domingo in the real-life prison drama “Sing Sing,” and Sebastian Stan for his portrayal of a real estate mogul reminiscent of Donald Trump in “The Apprentice.” The sci-fi epic “Dune: Part Two,” “Anora,” and “Wicked” each received seven nominations, while “A Complete Unknown” and the Irish-language hip-hop drama “Kneecap” garnered six each.
The BAFTA Film Awards, officially known as the EE BAFTA Film Awards, are considered Britain’s equivalent of the Academy Awards in Hollywood and are closely watched for potential Oscar winners. Putt commended the diversity in the nominations, highlighting the representation of six different genres in the Best Film category, stating, “There’s some really exciting stories in there and just a real glorious range of filmmaking this year.”
Of the 24 nominations in the acting categories, 14 are first-time nominees, with the Best Actress category poised to crown a first-time BAFTA winner. Demi Moore is a contender for the award, having been nominated for her role in the body horror film “The Substance.” Notable female nominees for Best Supporting Actress include Selena Gomez and Ariana Grande for their roles in “Emilia Perez” and “Wicked.”
In line with efforts to promote diversity, the British film academy has implemented changes in recent years. In 2020, no women were nominated for Best Director for the seventh
