The awards ceremony, scheduled for February 16th, is set to celebrate the finest achievements in cinema, offering a vibrant showcase of talent, innovation, and storytelling from across the globe.
A Star-Studded Lineup: Key Nominations
Best Film:
The competition for Best Film promises an intriguing battle between visionary works, with Conclave and Emilia Pérez emerging as frontrunners. Edward Berger's Conclave, a tightly woven political drama, stands alongside Jacques Audiard's Emilia Pérez, a genre-bending exploration of identity.
Best Director:
- Sean Baker (Anora)
- Brady Corbet (The Brutalist)
- Edward Berger (Conclave)
- Denis Villeneuve (Dune: Part Two)
- Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez)
- Coralie Fargeat (The Substance)
With Denis Villeneuve's grand vision for Dune: Part Two squaring off against Audiard's inventive storytelling and Berger's masterful direction, this category is particularly competitive.
Spotlight on Acting Categories
Best Actress in a Leading Role:
- Cynthia Erivo (Wicked)
- Karla Sofia Gascon (Emilia Pérez)
- Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths)
- Mikey Madison (Anora)
- Demi Moore (The Substance)
- Saoirse Ronan (The Outrun)
Karla Sofia Gascon's groundbreaking performance in Emilia Pérez could make history, as she brings unparalleled depth to her character. Meanwhile, Saoirse Ronan delivers another tour de force in The Outrun, further solidifying her reputation as one of the finest actors of her generation.
Best Actor in a Leading Role:
- Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
- Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown)
- Colman Domingo (Sing Sing)
- Ralph Fiennes (Conclave)
- Hugh Grant (Heretic)
- Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice)
Ralph Fiennes' commanding portrayal in Conclave and Colman Domingo's raw, electrifying turn in Sing Sing make this category a closely watched contest.
Diverse Representation Across Categories
This year's nominations underline BAFTA's commitment to celebrating diverse voices in cinema. Films such as Kneecap and Emilia Pérez highlight underrepresented perspectives, while nominations for first-time filmmakers like Luna Carmoon (Hoard) in the Outstanding Debut category signal a bright future for British cinema.
Best Film Not in the English Language:
- All We Imagine As Light (Payal Kapadia, Thomas Hakim)
- Emilia Pérez (Jacques Audiard, TBD)
- I'm Still Here (AINDA ESTOU AQUI) (Walter Salles, TBD)
- Kneecap (Rich Peppiatt, Trevor Birney)
- The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Mohammad Rasoulof, Amin Sadraei)
Outstanding British Film:
- Bird
- Blitz
- Conclave
- Gladiator II
- Hard Truths
- Kneecap
- Lee
- Love Lies Bleeding
- The Outrun
- Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Best Actress in a Supporting Role:
- Selena Gomez (Emilia Pérez)
- Ariana Grande (Wicked)
- Felicity Jones (The Brutalist)
- Jamie Lee Curtis (The Last Showgirl)
- Isabella Rossellini (Conclave)
- Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role:
- Yura Borisov (Anora)
- Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)
- Clarence Maclin (Sing Sing)
- Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown)
- Guy Pearce (The Brutalist)
- Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice)
Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer:
- Hoard – Luna Carmoon (Director, Writer)
- Kneecap – Rich Peppiatt (Director, Writer)
- Monkey Man – Dev Patel (Director)
- Santosh – Sandhya Suri (Director, Writer), James Bowsher (Producer), Balthazar de Ganay (Producer)
- Sister Midnight – Karan Kandhari (Director, Writer)
Best Original Screenplay:
- Anora – Written by Sean Baker
- The Brutalist – Written by Brady Corbet & Mona Fastvold
- Kneecap – Written by Rich Peppiatt; Story by Rich Peppiatt, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, JJ ÓDochartaigh
- A Real Pain – Written by Jesse Eisenberg
- The Substance – Written by Coralie Fargeat
Best Adapted Screenplay:
- A Complete Unknown – Screenplay by James Mangold and Jay Cocks
- Conclave – Screenplay by Peter Straughan
- Emilia Pérez – Written by Jacques Audiard
- Nickel Boys – Screenplay by RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes
- Sing Sing – Screenplay by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar; Story by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence ‘Divine Eye' Maclin, John ‘Divine G' Whitfield
Best Film Not in the English Language:
- All We Imagine As Light (Payal Kapadia, Thomas Hakim)
- Emilia Pérez (Jacques Audiard, TBD)
- I'm Still Here (AINDA ESTOU AQUI) (Walter Salles, TBD)
- Kneecap (Rich Peppiatt, Trevor Birney)
- The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Mohammad Rasoulof, Amin Sadraei)
Best Documentary:
- Black Box Diaries
- Daughters
- No Other Land
- Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
- Will & Harper
Best Animated Film:
- Flow
- Inside Out 2
- Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
- The Wild Robot
Best Children's & Family Film:
- Flow
- Kensuke's Kingdom
- Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
- The Wild Robot
Best Casting:
- Anora
- The Apprentice
- A Complete Unknown
- Conclave
- Kneecap
Best Cinematography:
- The Brutalist
- Conclave
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- Nosferatu
Best Editing:
- Anora
- Conclave
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- Kneecap
Best Costume Design:
- Blitz
- A Complete Unknown
- Conclave
- Nosferatu
- Wicked
Best Make Up & Hair:
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- Nosferatu
- The Substance
- Wicked
Best Original Score:
- The Brutalist
- Conclave
- Emilia Pérez
- Nosferatu
- The Wild Robot
Best Production Design:
- The Brutalist
- Conclave
- Dune: Part Two
- Nosferatu
- Wicked
Best Sound:
- Blitz
- Dune: Part Two
- Gladiator II
- The Substance
- Wicked
Best Visual Effects:
- Better Man
- Dune: Part Two
- Gladiator II
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
- Wicked
Best British Short Animation:
- Adios
- Mog's Christmas
- Wander to Wonder
Best British Short Film:
- The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing
- Marion
- Milk
- Rock, Paper, Scissors
- Stomach Bug
EE Rising Star Award:
- Marisa Abela
- Jharel Jerome
- David Jonsson
- Mikey Madison
- Nabhaan Rizwan
Personal Impressions
The 2025 BAFTA nominations showcase a thrilling mix of established names and rising stars. Conclave emerges as a masterclass in tension and narrative complexity, while Emilia Pérez captivates with its bold approach to storytelling. The breadth of creativity across categories is a testament to cinema's resilience and evolution.
What excites me most is the balance of artistic integrity and mainstream appeal among the nominees. Films like The Brutalist and Anora prove that cinema can be both thought-provoking and visually stunning. This year's awards season also underscores a growing shift toward inclusivity, with diverse narratives receiving deserved recognition.
What are your thoughts on the 2025 BAFTA nominations? Do you think Conclave or Emilia Pérez deserves to dominate the awards? Which performances and films are you rooting for? Share your opinions in the comments below!
