With each passing year the attention paid to the Bafta film awards turns up a notch, as campaigns jostle and reposition themselves in the quest for the real prize: an Academy Award. The Oscar race is pretty open this year, even more so after the Emilia Pérez debacle, but with its British centre of gravity and slightly differing nominations list, the Baftas have their own dynamic. Hence the Baftas can sometimes seem to be a fairground-mirror reflection of the American contest, or (looked at the other way) an assertion of a similar but separate cultural identity.
The most obvious example of this is the strong showing for Belfast rap comedy Kneecap, which could walk off with a fistful of Baftas, but failed to even get on the Academy nomination sheet. Hard Truths star Marianne Jean-Baptiste is the other big Oscar casualty, but she is in with a major shout for best actress here. And in a wider sense, the current Oscar frontrunners – The Brutalist, Anora, A Complete Unknown – may not resonate quite so strongly with British voters, so expect Conclave, a (largely) domestic effort, to put up a significant fight and follow through on its nominations lead.
There is still the usual irritating two-hour delay for the TV audience – why it’s not broadcast live is bit of a mystery, especially as all the drama is leaked when the results pop up instantly on social media. (They appear to have abandoned the experiment of screening part of it live, which they tried a couple of years ago.)
How to watch
In the UK: As is traditional, the Baftas are on BBC One from 7pm and streaming on iPlayer. The red-carpet show starts on Bafta’s YouTube channel at 3pm (and finishes at 5pm, when the award ceremony starts in real life).
In the US: The ceremony will stream on BritBox International, starting at 2pm ET/11am PT, in line with the BBC’s broadcast.
In Australia: BritBox is showing the ceremony on demand.
Preparation
Here’s some homework before the big kick-off:
• Who’s up for what
• Why Conclave is blessed
• Why Kneecap has already won
• Set your faces to stun, it’s Jeff Goldblum and Take That!
• Background on MediCinema, winner of the outstanding British contribution to cinema award
• Edible bucket, anyone? What’s on the Bafta menu
Final predictions
The Guardian’s chief critic Peter Bradshaw has already had his say, so here’s a final stab in the dark. (Conclave and Kneecap, basically, with a bit of Wallace and Gromit on the side.)
Best film Conclave
Outstanding British film Conclave
Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer Kneecap, Rich Peppiatt (director, writer)
Best film not in the English language Kneecap
Best documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Best animated film Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Best children’s & family film Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Best director Edward Berger, Conclave
Best original screenplay Kneecap
Best adapted screenplay Conclave
Best actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truths
Best actor Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
Best supporting actress Ariana Grande, Wicked
Best supporting actor Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Rising star award Mikey Madison
