The highly anticipated BAFTA Awards 2024, the UK’s premier film celebration, is set to unfold today, recognizing outstanding achievements in cinema over the past year. With a fresh host at the helm, captivating live musical performances, and a dazzling red carpet adorned with A-list celebrities, the evening promises to be a star-studded affair, brimming with unexpected surprises.
A constellation of celebrities, featuring luminaries like Cillian Murphy, Christopher Nolan, Emma Stone, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Paul Mescal, and Bradley Cooper, is expected to grace the red carpet, marking the BAFTA celebration of the finest films and actors from the past year.
Here’s your comprehensive guide to the BAFTA Film Awards 2024:
Event Venue:
The prestigious ceremony will unfold at the Royal Festival Hall within London’s Southbank Centre. For real-time updates on the winners, Sky News will be liveblogging the results before the televised ceremony airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 7 pm on Sunday night.
Nominees and Highlights:
A total of 38 films are vying for recognition, with Christopher Nolan’s riveting biopic on J. Robert Oppenheimer leading the pack with an impressive 13 nominations. Other notable contenders include the gothic fairy-tale “Poor Things” with 11 nods, Martin Scorsese’s “Killers Of The Flower Moon,” and the German-language drama “The Zone Of Interest,” each securing nine nominations.
Despite being the highest-grossing film of 2023, “Barbie” failed to secure a spot in the best film category, and director Greta Gerwig is notably absent from the directing category.
Potential Winners:
With Golden Globe wins earlier this year, Cillian Murphy and Emma Stone are positioned as strong contenders. Christopher Nolan, despite being Britain’s most successful working director, has yet to secure a BAFTA for best film or best director, making this year a pivotal one for him.
In the best supporting actress category, Da’Vine Joy Randolph from “The Holdovers” is considered a frontrunner, with speculation of potential success at the upcoming Oscars as well. The best supporting actor category, featuring Ryan Gosling, remains less predictable, creating suspense leading up to the awards.
Host and Presenters:
David Tennant will take on the role of host for the first time, aiming for an evening of “generosity and joy.” Notably, he has ruled out roasting any stars during the event. Presenters for the evening include renowned figures such as David Beckham, Dua Lipa, Hugh Grant, Idris Elba, Cate Blanchett, Gillian Anderson, and Daisy Edgar Jones.
Musical Performances:
Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Hannah Waddingham are set to grace the stage with live musical performances. Ellis-Bextor will enchant the audience with her 2001 hit “Murder On The Dancefloor,” gaining newfound popularity after featuring in the closing finale of “Saltburn.” Waddingham’s performance details are shrouded in secrecy, adding an element of anticipation.
Special Awards:
This year’s BAFTA Fellowship, the highest honor, will be awarded to actress Samantha Morton for her outstanding three-decade career spanning British indie productions to Hollywood blockbusters. The Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema will be bestowed upon June Givanni, a pioneering film curator, writer, and programmer dedicated to African and African diaspora cinema.
Stay tuned for a night of glamour, surprises, and cinematic excellence at the BAFTA Awards 2024.