Hot on Oppy’s heels is Yorgos Lanthimos’ absurdist coming-of-age offering Poor Things, which has come alive (ALIVE!) with audiences and critics alike and finds itself with 11 nominations here. Emma Stone, fresh off Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice wins for her portrayal of Bella Baxter, is up for Best Actress. Elsewhere, the film is also nominated for the likes of Best Picture, Outstanding British Film, Director for Lanthimos, and Adapted Screenplay for Tony McNamara. Martin Scorsese’s brooding meditation on America’s bloody history, Killers Of The Flower Moon, is close behind Poor Things with 9 nods (including Best Picture and Director) — as is Jonathan Glazer’s haunting holocaust drama The Zone Of Interest, which also has 9 nominations (including Best Picture and Director, too).
Despite picking up a healthy five nominations, including Margot Robbie for Actress and Ryan Gosling for Supporting Actor, the Kenergy eluded Greta Gerwig’s fantastic plastic feminist fable Barbie in key categories including Best Picture and Director. Instead, those categories have been filled out with Justine Triet’s did-she-dunnit Anatomy Of A Fall, Alexander Payne’s festive drama The Holdovers, and — in Director at least — Bradley Cooper’s Maestro and the aforementioned The Zone Of Interest.
With BAFTA being such a champion of British cinema, it’s heartening to see a banner year for UK cinema reflected in the nominations. Vivian Oparah is a welcome surprise nom for Best Actress for the brilliant Rye Lane (which is also up for Outstanding British Film), whilst the presence of Molly Manning-Walker’s incendiary debut How To Have Sex in the Outstanding British Film and British Debut categories is very exciting, indeed. Scrapper, Wonka, and The Old Oak all also get some much deserved love with nominations in the British film focused categories, helping set up one of the most wide open races on that front in recent memory.
Phew! Much to digest, and we’ve barely scratched the surface! But winners, losers, shock snubs and dark horses alike will all be revealed next month. The 2024 BAFTA ceremony is due to take place at Royal Festival Hall in London on 18 February. Bring it on!
Read the full list of nominees below: