LONDON (AP) 鈥� Sci-fi epic 鈥淒une鈥� and dark western 鈥淭he Power of the Dog鈥� lead the race as the British Academy Film Awards return Sunday with a live, black-tie ceremony after a pandemic-curtailed event in 2021.
Acting nominees Benedict Cumberbatch and Lady Gaga are among the stars expected on the red carpet at London鈥檚 Royal Albert Hall before a ceremony hosted by Rebel Wilson. Last year鈥檚 event was largely conducted online, with only the hosts and presenters appearing in person.
Denis Villeneuve鈥檚 鈥淒une,鈥� starring Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya, has 11 nominations including best film, cinematography and original score. Jane Campion鈥檚 鈥淭he Power of the Dog,鈥� set in 1920s Montana and starring Cumberbatch as a ranch owner, has eight including best director and best film.
If Campion takes the directing trophy she will be only the third female winner in that category, but the second in two years after Chloe Zhao for 鈥淣omadland鈥� in 2021.
Kenneth Branagh鈥檚 semi-autobiographical 鈥淏elfast,鈥� the story of a childhood overshadowed by Northern Ireland鈥檚 violent 鈥淭roubles,鈥� has six nominations including best film. Daniel Craig鈥檚 final James Bond thriller, 鈥淣o Time to Die,鈥� Steven Spielberg鈥檚 musical 鈥淲est Side Story鈥� and Paul Thomas Anderson's coming-of-age drama 鈥淟icorice Pizza鈥� have five nominations apiece.
Best-picture nominees are 鈥淒une,鈥� 鈥淭he Power of the Dog,鈥� 鈥淏elfast,鈥� 鈥淟icorice Pizza鈥� and disaster comedy 鈥淒on鈥檛 Look Up.鈥�
The separate category of best British film comprises 鈥淎fter Love,鈥� 鈥淎li & Ava,鈥� 鈥淏elfast,鈥� 鈥淏oiling Point,鈥� 鈥淐yrano,鈥� 鈥淓verybody鈥檚 Talking About Jamie,鈥� 鈥淗ouse of Gucci,鈥� 鈥淟ast Night in Soho,鈥� 鈥淣o Time to Die鈥� and 鈥淧assing.鈥�
The contenders for best actor are Cumberbatch, Adeel Akhtar for 鈥淎li & Ava,鈥� Mahershala Ali for 鈥淪wan Song,鈥� Stephen Graham for 鈥淏oiling Point,鈥� Leonardo DiCaprio for 鈥淒on鈥檛 Look Up鈥� and Will Smith for 鈥淜ing Richard鈥�
Leading actress nominees are Lady Gaga for 鈥淗ouse of Gucci,鈥� Alana Haim for 鈥淟icorice Pizza,鈥� Emilia Jones for 鈥淐oda,鈥� Renate Reinsve for 鈥淭he Worst Person in The World,鈥� Joanna Scanlan for 鈥淎fter Love鈥� and Tessa Thompson for 鈥淧assing.鈥� The category is the most unpredictable of the night, with acclaimed performances by Kristen Stewart in Princess Diana biopic 鈥淪pencer鈥� and Olivia Colman in 鈥淭he Lost Daughter鈥� overlooked for nomination.
The British film academy has expanded its voting membership and shaken up its rules in recent years in an attempt to address a glaring lack of diversity in the nominations. In 2020, no women were nominated as best director for a seventh consecutive year, and all 20 nominees in the lead and supporting performer categories were white.
Awards organizers say they are committed to supporting new talent, and this year all the performers in the supporting actor category are first-time nominees. They include Woody Norman for 鈥淐鈥檓on C鈥檓on鈥� 鈥� at 11 years old the youngest nominee of the year 鈥� and Ariana DeBose, who plays Anita in 鈥淲est Side Story.鈥�
The British awards, known as the BAFTAs, are usually held a week or two before the Academy Awards and have become an important awards-season staging post. This year鈥檚 Oscars take place March 27.
Jill Lawless, The Associated Press
