While much of the pre-ceremony buzz has centred on the awards race between ‘One Battle After Another’ (which leads with 14 nominations) and ‘Sinners’, the evening has already delivered a significant moment for Indian cinema.
While U.S. audiences may expect a showdown between ‘One Battle After Another’ and ‘Sinners’, industry watchers are keeping a close eye on ‘Hamnet’, directed by Chloé Zhao and starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, could resonate strongly with BAFTA voters. Zhao would become the first female director to win two BAFTAs if she takes the prize, having previously won for ‘Nomadland’.
In the Best Director category, contenders include Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle), Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme), Ryan Coogler (Sinners), Yorgos Lanthimos (Bugonia), Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value) and Zhao (Hamnet).
Acting races are equally competitive. Best Leading Actor nominees include Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, Jesse Plemons and Robert Aramayo. In Best Leading Actress, Jessie Buckley is considered a strong contender for Hamnet, alongside Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Chase Infiniti, Renate Reinsve and Emma Stone.
In one of the early awards of the night, ‘Boong’ won Best Children’s & Family Film. Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi and produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, the 2024 Manipuri-language coming-of-age drama triumphed over fellow nominees ‘Arco’, ‘Lilo & Stitch’ and ‘Zootopia 2’.
Adding to India’s strong showing, Alia Bhatt made her debut at the show, ready to turn presenter at this year’s ceremony, handing out the award for Best Film Not in the English Language.
On the red carpet, Bhatt spoke about the universal language of cinema, saying, “You don’t have to understand the language because what truly drives it is just emotion, and that feeling, that just sort of pulses out at you from the big screen.”
The BAFTAs are often viewed as a bellwether for Hollywood’s Academy Awards, set to take place on March 15.
Alan Cumming will be hosting the award show promising wit, theatrical flair and perhaps a bold fashion statement or two.
