BAFTA Nominations: Surprises and Snubs, from Chase Infiniti and Odessa A’zion to Brit Indie ‘I Swear’ While ‘Wicked’ Faces Challenges
This morning’s BAFTA nominations mirrored many of the U.S. Academy’s choices from last week, presenting a familiar lineup in several key categories. A complete list of nominees is available online.
While the nominations exhibited a strong American influence, British independent films such as I, Swear and The Ballad Of Wallis Island performed notably well.
Significant snubs were few, but some surprises emerged. The BAFTA’s pre-announced longlists diminish some of the suspense, and the inclusion of six nominees in acting categories reduces the likelihood of major omissions. However, some divergence from the Academy’s picks was apparent, particularly with the absence of Wagner Moura, which stands out as a notable absence from the BAFTA acting longlist.
Below is a summary of the BAFTA nominations highlighting both surprises and snubs.
Surprises
I Swear
The British indie film was shortlisted for six categories and secured nominations in five today. This Tourette’s drama continues to excel for Studiocanal, with lead Robert Aramayo nominated for Best Actor.
After being unexpectedly left out of the Oscar nominations, the film makes a comeback in the BAFTA nominations.
Odessa A’Zion
Following a standout performance in Marty Supreme, many anticipated an Oscar nomination for A’Zion, but she was also overlooked there. She has since secured her place in the BAFTA acting categories.
Emily Watson
After a long absence from major award nominations, the acclaimed actress received her first BAFTA film nomination in 25 years for Hamnet.
Jesse Plemons
Acclaimed for his performance in Bugonia at Venice, Plemons was not nominated for an Oscar last week, but he is back in contention for the BAFTAs.
Mubi
After a challenging period, Mubi received 13 nominations today, including for Die My Love and The Secret Agent, along with a notable eight nominations for Sentimental Value. This success places Mubi among the top distributors, trailing only behind Netflix.
Universal/Focus
Despite high expectations for Warner Bros. Discovery, Universal’s 24 nominations—only three behind WBD—mark a commendable outcome. Films like Hamnet and Bugonia performed better than at the Oscars, while The Ballad Of Wallis Island received three nominations, along with nods for Bridget Jones.
Snubs
Wicked: For Good
Despite eight initial longlist mentions, including nominations in multiple categories, the sequel only garnered recognition in costume and hair and makeup today. Following a disappointing showing at the Oscars, its struggles continue with just two nominations here.
Nuremberg
Starring Russell Crowe, this film received five mentions on the BAFTA longlist, making its shutout disappointing for UK distributor Sky Cinema.
Urchin
This Cannes favorite enjoyed a higher profile than films like The Ceremony or A Want In Her but failed to secure a nomination in the Outstanding British Debut category, despite being longlisted.
The Voice Of Hind Rajab
The film received recognition today, repeating its showing from last week at the Oscars. Its ongoing snubbing by major U.S. distributors raises challenging questions for the film’s future.
