Paul Thomas Anderson’s politically themed action thriller “One Battle After Another” takes the lead in nominations for the British Academy Film Awards, securing 14 nods on Tuesday, with five cast members also receiving acting nominations. Ryan Coogler’s blues-infused vampire epic “Sinners” follows closely behind with 13 nominations, while Chloé Zhao’s Shakespearean family tragedy “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, rounding out the 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 highlighted the recognition of films like “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners,” which delve into significant societal issues such as the moral complexities of activism and Black identity, as well as films exploring the intimate dynamics of family relationships.
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 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, received nominations for their supporting performances. The Associated Press was also recognized in the best documentary category for Mstyslav Chernov’s harrowing Ukraine war portrait “2000 Meters to Andriivka,” co-produced by the AP and PBS Frontline.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Feb. 22 in London, hosted by actor Alan Cumming. The U.K. prizes, known as the EE BAFTA Film Awards, often serve as indicators for the upcoming Hollywood Academy Awards. Notably, this year’s Oscar nominations were announced prior to the BAFTAs, with “Sinners” securing a record 16 nominations, followed by “One Battle After Another” with 13.
The BAFTAs have recognized several performers overlooked by the Oscars, including supporting actor nominees Paul Mescal for “Hamnet” and Odessa A’zion for “Marty Supreme.” The awards also 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.”
Diversity remains a focus for the British film academy, with efforts to increase inclusivity in recent years. Notably, changes were made to the voting process to enhance diversity in nominations. Among the best director nominees, Chloé Zhao is the sole female nominee, alongside Anderson, Safdie, Cooger, Yorgos Lanthimos for “Bugonia,” and Joachim Trier for “Sentimental Value.” Across all categories, a quarter of directing nominees are women.