Bafta Nominations Announced Amid an Unpredictable Awards Race
The anticipation is building as the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) prepares to announce the nominees for the 2025 Bafta Film Awards. Set to take place on February 16 at London’s Royal Festival Hall, the awards ceremony follows an unpredictable awards season full of surprises, with strong contenders emerging across various categories. The Bafta nominations are often seen as a significant indicator for the Oscars, and this year, the race is as open as ever, with multiple films vying for top honors.
Oscars Preview and Best Picture Predictions
Last year, the Bafta and Oscar winners in the top six categories matched perfectly, making the Bafta nominations a reliable predictor of potential Oscar winners. This year, however, there is no clear consensus on which film will take home the coveted Best Picture award, which will be announced at the Oscars on March 2. Titles such as The Brutalist, Emilia Pérez, Anora, Conclave, Wicked, and A Complete Unknown have all been touted as potential winners, with each film having its own path to victory.
Emilia Pérez, a Spanish-language musical about a former Mexican cartel leader transitioning to life as a trans woman, leads the pack after receiving the most mentions on the Bafta longlist. Following closely behind are Conclave, which delves into the political scheming of cardinals electing a new Pope, and A Complete Unknown, which chronicles Bob Dylan's rise to fame in the 1960s. Other notable contenders include The Brutalist, The Substance, Wicked, Dune: Part Two, Anora, and Gladiator II.
Frontrunners and Possible Surprises in Acting Categories
While some categories appear to have frontrunners, the acting races remain wide open, with strong contenders and potential surprises on the horizon. In the Best Actress category, Demi Moore’s performance in The Substance as a fading TV aerobics instructor and Karla Sofía Gascón’s portrayal of a newly transitioned woman in Emilia Pérez are seen as strong bets. Cynthia Erivo, playing Elphaba in Wicked, and Mikey Madison, portraying a New York stripper in Anora, are also likely nominees.
Other names to watch include Marianne Jean-Baptiste for Hard Truths, Saoirse Ronan in The Outrun, and a potential nomination for Marisa Abela for her role as Amy Winehouse in Back to Black. Meanwhile, the Best Actor category could see Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) and Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown) lead the charge. Other possible nominees include Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice), Daniel Craig (Queer), and Ralph Fiennes (Conclave).
Supporting Categories and Surprises to Watch
In the supporting categories, Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez), Ariana Grande (Wicked), Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain), and Yura Borisov (Anora) are expected to receive nominations. The supporting actor race will also be closely watched, particularly to see if Denzel Washington receives his first-ever Bafta nomination for Gladiator II.
Changes to the Voting System and More Diverse Nominations
In recent years, Bafta has altered its voting system to address diversity concerns, particularly after the 2020 Oscars, where no ethnic minority actors were nominated. The introduction of a jury system in 2021 allowed juries to determine four out of the six nominees in the acting categories, resulting in more diverse shortlists but also an increased divergence from other major awards shows.
For this year’s Bafta nominations, however, the final nominees in major categories like acting will be determined by Bafta members rather than juries, meaning the nominations are likely to align more closely with those of other awards bodies. The shift in the voting system is expected to reduce outliers and bring Bafta’s nominations in line with those of other major ceremonies.
As the Bafta nominations approach, the excitement is palpable, with film industry insiders and fans alike speculating on which films and performances will ultimately secure their place in the spotlight. The results could have a significant impact on the upcoming Oscar race, making the Bafta nominations a crucial milestone in the 2025 awards season.