IT’S ONE Of the biggest nights in the movie industry and this one is not too far away from us.
The British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) are on in the London Royal Opera House this evening (BBC 9pm)
It’s often considered the warm-up to the Oscars in Hollywood, but it’s also an excuse to see how the other half live, while also hoping there might be some awkward moments on the red carpet.
Or perhaps an actress might follow in Jennifer Lawrence’s footsteps with one of these classics:
Either way, we just like to get up close and personal to the stars and frankly, we like to see them being regular people. (Of course, what they are wearing is always a must see too).
So, who’s up for what?
Best actor
- Benedict Cumberbatch – The Imitation Game
- Ralph Fiennes – The Grand Budapest Hotel
- Jake Gyllenhaal – Nightcrawler
- Michael Keaton – Birdman
- Eddie Redmayne – The Theory of Everything
Britain’s Felicity Jones, an up-and-coming star still waiting for her big break, is nominated for her role as disabled astrophysicist Stephen Hawking’s wife Jane in “The Theory of Everything”.
She will face stiff competition in the best actress category from fellow Briton Pike, nominated for “Gone Girl”, as well as US stars Julianne Moore (“Still Alice”), Amy Adams (“Big Eyes”) and Reese Witherspoon (“Wild”).
Best actress
- Amy Adams – Big Eyes
- Felicity Jones – The Theory of Everything
- Julianne Moore – Still Alice
- Rosamund Pike – Gone Girl
- Reese Witherspoon – Wild
Best British film
- The Imitation Game
- Paddington
- Pride
- The Theory of Eerything
- Under The Skin
Two of the favourites for best film — Alejandro Inarritu’s “Birdman” and Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood” — hail from the US, but the focus of the night is likely to be on British home-grown talent.
Best film
- Birdman
- Boyhood
- Grand Budapest Hotel
- The Imitation Game
- The Theory of Everything
Supporting actress
- Patricia Arquette – Boyhood
- Renee Russo – Nightcrawler
- Keira Knightley – The Imitation Game
- Imelda Staunton – Pride
- Emma Stone – Birdman
Supporting Actor
- Steve Carell – Foxcatcher
- Ethan Hawke – Boyhood
- Edward Norton – Birdman
- Mark Ruffalo – Foxcatcher
- JK Simmons – Whiplash
Best adapted screenplay
- American Sniper, Jason Hall
- Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn
- The Imitation Game, Graham Moore
- Paddington, Paul King
- The Theory of Everything, Anthony McCarten
Best original screenplay
- Birdman – Alejandro G. Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr, Armando Bo
- Boyhood – Richard Linklater
- The Grand Budapest Hotel – Wes Anderson
- Nightcrawler – Dan Gilroy
- Whiplash – Damien Chazelle
Best director
- Wes Anderson, Grand Budapest Hotel
- Damian Chazelle, Whiplash
- Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Birdman
- Richard Linklater, Boyhood
- James Marsh, The Theory of Everything
Best documentary
- 20 Feet from Stardom
- 20,000 Days on Earth
- Citizenfour
- Finding Vivian Maier
- Virunga
Best animation
- Big Hero 6
- The Boxtrolls
- The Lego Movie
On the eve of the ceremony, the movers and shakers in British cinema partied in Kensington Palace — the London home of Prince William and his wife Kate — and producer Harvey Weinstein will be hosting a big bash after the ceremony.
“Britain has had a great year across the board, across writers, producers, actors and directors. It’s a very, very good time,” said Cumberbatch.
Five British actors and actresses — Cumberbatch, Jones, Knightley, Pike and Redmayne — have been nominated for the Oscars this year, which will be handed out on February 22.
So, grab your favourite snack and enjoy!
What do you think of this year’s nominations? Have they some out in your opinion and who do you think is likely to win? Tell us in the comments section below.
Additional reporting AFP
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