On January 15, local time, the shortlist for the 78th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) was announced in London. "The Conclave," directed by Edward Berg and starring Ralph Fiennes, received the most nominations, 12; followed by the musical "Emilia Perez," directed by Jacques Audiard, with 11 nominations; and "Brutalist," directed by Brady Corbett and starring Adrien Brody, received 9 nominations.

"Secret Meeting" poster

Denis Villeneuve (Dune 2), who had previously been nominated for both the Golden Globe and the Directors Guild of America awards, finally received recognition on the other side of the ocean. In addition, Coralie Farria, the director of A Certain Material, also took a seat, and the candidates for the Best Director Award were finally no longer all male.

In the actor awards, the nominations of Marianne Jean-Baptiste (The Hard Truth) and Clarence MacLean (Prison Opera) also highlight the British Academy of Film Awards' efforts in pursuing diversity in recent years. The nominations of Saoirse Ronan (Escape), Felicity Jones (Brutalists) and Hugh Grant (The Infidel) show the Academy Awards' support for local filmmakers.

Poster of Some Kind of Material

Since 2020, the British Academy of Film Awards has made major adjustments to the voting process. It no longer only looks at the number of votes, but forcibly implants a so-called jury in awards such as Best Director and Actor. The final nomination results will be drawn up by the jury. The outside world only knows that the judges are members of the academy, so-called industry experts, and their birth background, work experience, gender, region and age group are 100% in line with the diversity requirements. As for their specific identities and qualifications, the outside world knows nothing, and they never disclose to the outside world what criteria they use to select candidates every year.

In this way, the British Academy Film Awards in recent years are no longer the product of 100% voting. According to the Academy's idea, such artificial manipulation can avoid the controversy of no women, no African Americans, no Asians, and no ethnic minorities among the candidates, and can ensure that they will never be criticized for being conservative.

Another highlight of the nomination list is that Sebastian Stan was nominated for Best Actor for "The Apprentice". Sebastian Stan performed well in both "A Different Man" and "The Apprentice" in 2024. However, most of his previous awards or nominations were for "A Different Man", and because the protagonist of "The Apprentice" is US President-elect Trump, the situation of the leading actor has become very delicate.

Stills from The Apprentice

The 78th British Academy Film Awards ceremony will be held on February 16, hosted by famous actor David Tennant.

[78th British Academy Film Awards Nominations]

Best Film

Anora

Brutalism

Nobody

Secret Meeting

Emilia Perez

Best Director

Sean Baker, Anora

Edward Berger, The Conclave

Brady Corbett, Brutalist

Denis Villeneuve, Dune 2

Jacques Audiard, Emilia Perez

Coralie Farria, "Something Substance"

Best Actress

Marianne Jean-Baptiste, The Hard Truth

Cynthia Erivo, "Wicked"

Carla Sofia Gascón in Emilia Perez

Mickey Madison, Anora

Demi Moore, Some Kind of Material

Saoirse Ronan, "Escape"

Best Actor

Hugh Grant, The Heretic

Adrien Brody, "Brutalist"

Timothee Chalamet, "Nobody"

Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice

Colman Domingo, Prison Theater

Ralph Fiennes, The Conclave

Best Supporting Actress

Selena Gomez - Emilia Perez

Ariana Grande, "Wicked"

Felicity Jones, "Brutalist"

Jamie Lee Curtis, The Last Dancer

Isabella Rossellini, The Conclave

Zoe Saldana in "Emilia Perez"

Best Supporting Actor

Yura Borisov: Anora

Kieran Culkin, "True Pain"

Clarence MacLean, Prison Theater

Edward Norton, Nobody

Guy Pearce, "Brutalist"

Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice

Best Original Screenplay

Anora

Brutalism

The Kneecap Band

"True Pain"

"Something Substance"

Best Adapted Screenplay

Nobody

Secret Meeting

Emilia Perez

Nickel Boy

Prison Theater

Best Documentary Feature

Black Box Diaries

Daughters

The Only Home

Superman: The Christopher Reeve Story

Will & Harper: Friends Road Trip

Best Film Not in the English Language

The Light of Imagination

Emilia Perez

I'm Still Here

The Kneecap Band

The Sacred Fig Seed

Best Animated Feature Film

The Fantasy Adventures of Cats and Cats

Inside Out 2

Wild Robots

Wallace and Gromit: Revenge of the Penguin

Best Children's & Family Film

The Fantasy Adventures of Cats and Cats

Kensuke's Kingdom

Wallace and Gromit: Revenge of the Penguin

Wild Robots

Best Cinematography

Nosferatu

Emilia Perez

Brutalism

Secret Meeting

Dune 2

Best Visual Effects

"Better Man"

Dune 2

Gladiator 2

Planet of the Apes: New World

Wicked

Best Audio

Blitz

Dune 2

Gladiator 2

"Something Substance"

Wicked

Best Art Direction

Brutalism

Secret Meeting

Dune 2

Nosferatu

Wicked

Best Original Score

Brutalism

Secret Meeting

Emilia Perez

Nosferatu

Wild Robots

Best Editing

Anora

Secret Meeting

Dune 2

Emilia Perez

The Kneecap Band

Best Costume Design

Blitz

Nobody

Secret Meeting

Nosferatu

Wicked

Best Makeup and Hair Design

Dune 2

Emilia Perez

Nosferatu

"Something Substance"

Wicked

Best Casting

Anora

The Apprentice

Nobody

Secret Meeting

The Kneecap Band

Best British Film

"bird"

Blitz

Secret Meeting

Gladiator 2

The Brutal Truth

The Kneecap Band

"plum"

A River of Blood and Love

Escape

Wallace and Gromit: Revenge of the Penguin

Best British Short Film

Flowers Bear Silent Witness

Marion

"milk"

Rock, Paper, Scissors

Stomach

Best British Animated Short Film

"goodbye"

Mog's Christmas

A Stroll into Wonderland

Best British First Film

Luna Camon in Treasure House

The Kneecaps - Richie Peppiatt

Dev Patel in "Raging Monkey"

"Santosh" Sandhya Sari

Midnight Sisters - Karan Kandari

Rising Star Award

Marissa Abela, "Back to Darkness"

Jharrel Jerome, "Unstoppable"

David Ronson, "Alien: Revenge"

Mickey Madison, Anora

Nabhan Rizwan, "Secret Character"