Paul Thomas Anderson’s politically-charged action thriller “One Battle After Another” takes the lead in the British Academy Film Awards race with 14 nominations announced on Tuesday. The film also secured acting nods for five of its cast members. Ryan Coogler’s blues-infused vampire epic “Sinners” follows closely with 13 nominations, while Chloé Zhao’s Shakespearean family tragedy “Hamnet” and Josh Safdie’s ping-pong odyssey “Marty Supreme” each received 11 nominations. Guillermo Del Toro’s reimagining of “Frankenstein” and the Norwegian family drama “Sentimental Value” both garnered eight nominations, rounding out the top contenders for both the British and Hollywood Academy Awards. The best film nominees include “One Battle After Another,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “Sinners,” and “Sentimental Value.”
BAFTA chief executive Jane Millichip highlighted that the nominations acknowledge films like “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners” for addressing significant societal issues such as the moral complexities of activism and Black identity, as well as films exploring the intimate aspects of family relationships. The nominations showcase a diverse range of storytelling approaches and bold narratives.
In the best leading actor category, contenders include Robert Aramayo for his role 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 leading actress category features Jessie Buckley for her portrayal of Agnes Hathaway in “Hamnet,” alongside 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 performances from “One Battle After Another” actors Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, and Sean Penn are also recognized in the nominations. The Associated Press received a nomination in the best documentary category for Mstyslav Chernov’s poignant Ukraine war portrait “2000 Meters to Andriivka,” co-produced by AP and PBS Frontline.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Feb. 22 in London hosted by actor Alan Cumming. The EE BAFTA Film Awards often serve as a precursor to the Hollywood Academy Awards, providing insights into potential winners. This year, the Oscars announced nominations earlier, with “Sinners” leading with 16 nominations, closely followed by “One Battle After Another.”
The BAFTAs also spotlight performers overlooked by the Oscars, including supporting actor nominees Paul Mescal for “Hamnet” and Odessa A’zion for “Marty Supreme.” The awards feature a category for best British film, with nominees such as “The Ballad of Wallis Island,” “Pillion,” “I Swear,” and “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.”
The BAFTA winners are selected by 8,500 industry professionals, with the Rising Star Award determined by public vote from a shortlist of nominees. This year’s contenders for the Rising Star Award include Infiniti, Aramayo, “Sinners” star Miles Caton, and British actors Archie Madekwe and Posy Sterling.
Diversity has been a focus for the British film academy, with recent changes aimed at increasing inclusivity. In 2020, efforts were made to address the lack of diversity, with alterations to the voting process and a push for a more representative nominee list. Notably, Zhao is the sole female nominee in the best director category, alongside Anderson, Safdie, Cooger, Yorgos Lanthimos for “Bugonia,” and Joachim Trier for “Sentimental Value.” Overall, 25 percent of the directing nominees across all categories are women.