
Hello, my award show junkies! The season of nominations continues with the announcement of the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Film Award nominations. Once again La La Land has secured the most nominations with a total of 11. The nominations include Best Film, Best Leading Actor (Ryan Gosling), Best Leading Actress (Emma Stone), Best Original Screenplay (Damien Chazelle), and the David Lean Award for Achievement in Direction (Damien Chazelle). With all of the BAFTA nominations and the fact that the film picked up a nomination for the Producers Guild Awards, I would say that La La Land has solidified its place as the front-runner to win Best Picture at the Oscars.

In a surprising turn, Arrival picked up nine nominations including: Best Film, Best Leading Actress (Amy Adams), Best Adapted Screenplay (Eric Heisserer), and the David Lean Award for Achievement in Direction (Denis Villeneuve). Considering the film received only two nominations for the Golden Globes (Best Actress, Drama for Amy Adams and Best Original Score), this strong showing at the BAFTAs will boost its chances of scoring a Best Picture nomination come January 24.
Manchester by the Sea and Moonlight were also nominated for Best Film. Both films also picked up nominations for several members of their cast. Golden Globe winner Casey Affleck received a Best Leading Actor nomination, and Michelle Williams received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for their roles in Manchester. Mahershala Ali and Naomie Harris both picked up nominations for Best Supporting Actor and Actress, respectively, for their work in Moonlight.

The real surprise in the Best Film category was the inclusion of I, Daniel Blake. Never heard of it? That is not surprising. It opened in a limited release here in the US on December 23, without much fanfare. Blake tells the story of a carpenter who goes on welfare after an injury. While circumnavigating the British welfare system, he meets a single mother in a similar situation. The film received nominations for Best Film, Outstanding British Film of the Year, Best Supporting Actress (Hayley Squires), Best Original Screenplay (Paul Laverty), and the David Lean Award for Achievement in Direction (Ken Loach).
There were actually several surprises at the BAFTAs this year. Jake Gyllenhaal received a nomination for Best Leading Actor for his role in Nocturnal Animals. While the film has been getting much award hype, it is usually for Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s supporting and Tom Ford’s direction (both received nominations). Emily Blunt received her second BAFTA nomination for her role in the film adaptation of the best-selling book The Girl on the Train. Blunt received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for this role, as well. This could make her a dark horse in the Best Actress category for the Oscars. Denzel Washington did not receive a nomination for his role in Fences, while his screen counterpart, Viola Davis, did. I was also surprised not to see Octavia Spencer receive a nomination for Hidden Figures. She has been called the standout performance in a strong film.
What surprised you? Is there anyone that you cannot believe wasn’t nominated? Let us know on Twitter or Facebook.
-Ariadne Ansbro
Full list of nominees below:

Best Film
Arrival
I, Daniel Blake
La La Land
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight

Outstanding British Film
American Honey
Denial
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
I, Daniel Blake
Notes on Blindness
Under the Shadow

Best Leading Actor
Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
Ryan Gosling, La La Land
Jake Gyllenhaal, Nocturnal Animals
Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic

Best Leading Actress
Amy Adams, Arrival
Emily Blunt, The Girl on the Train
Emma Stone, La La Land
Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins
Natalie Portman, Jackie

Best Supporting Actor
Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
Hugh Grant, Florence Foster Jenkins
Dev Patel, Lion
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nocturnal Animals
Michelle Williams in Manchester by the Sea
Best Supporting Actress
Viola Davis, Fences
Naomie Harris, Moonlight
Nicole Kidman, Lion
Hayley Squires, I, Daniel Blake
Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea
Tom Ford directing Nocturnal Animals
David Lean Award for Achievement in Direction
Damien Chazelle, La La Land
Tom Ford, Nocturnal Animals
Ken Loach, I, Daniel Blake
Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea
Denis Villeneuve, Arrival

Best Original Screenplay
Hell or High Water, Taylor Sheridan
I, Daniel Blake, Paul Laverty
La La Land, Damien Chazelle
Manchester by the Sea, Kenneth Lonergan
Moonlight, Barry Jenkins

Best Adapted Screenplay
Arrival, Eric Heisserer
Hacksaw Ridge, Robert Schenkkan and Andrew Knight
Hidden Figures, Theodore Melfi and Allison Schroeder
Lion, Luke Davies
Nocturnal Animals, Tom Ford

Best Cinematography
Arrival
Hell or High Water
La La Land
Lion
Nocturnal Animals

Best Editing
Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge
La La Land
Manchester by the Sea
Nocturnal Animals

Best Production Design
Doctor Strange
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Hail, Caesar!
La La Land
Nocturnal Animals

Best Costume Design
Allied
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Florence Foster Jenkins
Jackie
La La Land

Best Original Music
Arrival
Jackie
La La Land
Lion
Nocturnal Animals

Best Make Up/Hair
Doctor Strange
Florence Foster Jenkins
Hacksaw Ridge
Nocturnal Animals
Rogue One

Best Sound
Arrival
Deepwater Horizon
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Hacksaw Ridge
La La Land

Best Special Visual Effects
Arrival
Doctor Strange
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
The Jungle Book
Rogue One

Best Film not in the English Language
Dheepan
Julieta
Mustang
Son of Saul
Toni Erdmann

Best Animated Feature Film
Finding Dory
Kubo and the Two Strings
Moana
Zootopia

Best Documentary
13th
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years
The Eagle Huntress
Notes on Blindness
Weiner

EE Rising Star Award
Laia Costa
Lucas Hedges
Tom Holland
Ruth Negga
Anya Taylor-Joy

Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer
The Girl with All the Gifts
The Hard Stop
Notes on Blindness
The Pass
Under the Shadow
Best Short Animation
The Alan Dimension
A Love Story
Tough
Best Short Film
Home
Mouth of Hell
The Party
Standby