As experts scrutinize each name in the awards group for clues to the big picture of the Oscars, all eyes are on BAFTA, which this week will report which films have the support of the Academy’s European voting bloc. . In recent years, the large contingent of English, French and other continental members has swayed nominations and eventual winners at the Oscars ceremonies – seeing Anthony Hopkins win Best Actor against presumed favorite Chadwick Boseman in 2021 .
On January 6, BAFTA announces its long lists for all categories, as selected by voters in the first round which ended on December 30. Here are five movies whose strong overseas support could propel them to BAFTA nods and, in turn, the Oscars.
Two hundred and twenty feature films were submitted for Best Picture which will be narrowed down to 10 on the long list. For the organization’s prestigious Outstanding British Film Award, 57 feature films were submitted, including the Irish film ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’.
For the realization, there will be 16 shortlisted among 128 men and 63 projects led by women.
Pay close attention to the long list of Best Picture this year. With BAFTA reduced to 10 films, there is no jury that fills one of the places. So, in theory, this could be read as the best Oscar nominees.
There are a few movies that can get significant boosts.
Oliver Hermanus’ “Living,” the impeccably crafted remake of Akira Kurosawa’s “Ikiru” (1952), features a career-best turn from British mainstay Bill Nighy, who won the BAFTA for “Love Actually” (2004). The story set in London, which explores themes of mortality and regret, could strike a chord with older voters.
Anyone who lives in Europe witnesses the effects of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Daniel Roher’s documentary ‘Navalny’, about the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny will deeply affect voters in the region, which has seen the biggest rise in Academy ranks in recent years. The ongoing conflict is sure to be a priority when BAFTA members fill in their ballots, just as the outbreak of war last February prompted AMPAS members to bestow “CODA” Best Picture honors. optimistic in spirit.
Todd Field’s ‘Tár’, dissection of ‘cancelled culture’ and the volatile nature of the creative process are brilliantly conveyed through this portrait of a fictional composer, exquisitely performed by Cate Blanchett. Set primarily in Berlin, the film captures German culture and how different generations communicate — topics relating to both baby boomers and TikTokers across the continent.
Ruben Östlund’s take on classism and power dynamics hits the right notes with “Triangle of Sadness,” with its sharp writing and ambitious centerpieces. With Dolly De Leon’s pivotal turn as toilet manager turned tribal leader anchoring the story, what better way to stick to the 1% than by anointing a film that ridicules them?
You wouldn’t expect a film featuring strong black women to attract BAFTA voters, given their poor track record in recognizing black talent (e.g. nodding and Denzel counting Washington). However, Gina Prince-Bythewood’s epic drama ‘The Woman King’, which boasts a thrilling cast of international stars, played like gangbusters at UK screenings. In contrast, Academy screenings in the United States are struggling to fill seats. A BAFTA nomination could be the crucial push the film needs to land in the major Oscar categories.
The BAFTA Awards will take place on Sunday February 19.
Read the long list predictions in the categories below. Note: US distributors are listed for each film.
See the latest movie predictions, across all 23 categories, in one place on Variety Oscar Collective. To see ranked predictions for each category, visit Variety Oscar Center.