The BAFTA Film Awards, commonly known as the BAFTAs, take place on Sunday night in London. If you’re new to the ceremony, Britain’s equivalent of the Oscars, here’s what you might want to know before it gets started.
What are the BAFTAs, and why are they important?
The BAFTAs are the British movie industry’s major award show and also widely seen as a bellwether for the Oscars because of the overlap in their voting academies. All of the winners of last year’s major BAFTA acting categories, for instance, went on to triumph at the Academy Awards.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t differences between the two ceremonies, though. Last year, “Conclave” was named best film at the BAFTAs, but “Anora” secured the Oscar for best picture.
The ceremony, which will be held at the Royal Festival Hall in London, starts around 4:45 p.m. local time (11:45 a.m. Eastern).
How can I watch?
Viewers in the United States and Britain can watch the ceremony in delayed broadcasts. In Britain, the BBC will air the awards from 7 p.m. local time. People in the United States can watch on E!, which will air the ceremony at 8 p.m. Eastern and 8 p.m. Pacific.
Who are the top contenders?
“One Battle After Another” received 14 nominations for this year’s BAFTAs — the most of any film, and one more than “Sinners.” Those titles will compete against “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme” and “Sentimental Value” for the best film award.
Although U.S. viewers may expect “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners” to duke it out for the major prizes, keep a close eye on “Hamnet,” Chloé Zhao’s film about Shakespeare’s private life. It focuses on Britain’s greatest playwright, his wife and their family struggles, and features a cast including the Irish stars Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal — and it could do well with BAFTA voters.
On Friday, British bookmakers had “Hamnet” as second favorite to win best film, behind “One Battle After Another.”
Will the ceremony have a British flavor?
The BAFTAs features several awards purely for British movies. Among the titles competing for the outstanding British film prize are several that critics in Britain have raved about but are lesser known elsewhere, including “The Ballad of Wallis Island,” a folk music comedy; “Pillion,” a B.D.S.M. romance; and “I Swear,” about a man with Tourette’s syndrome.
There may also be some royal flair at the event: Prince William is BAFTA’s president and regularly attends the awards.
Stars got political at the Grammys. Is that likely at the BAFTAs?
At this month’s Grammy Awards, music stars including Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish castigated the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in their acceptance speeches, and many attendees wore badges that read “ICE OUT.”
Some BAFTA winners may give also raise political issues onstage. Actors and directors have recently used the awards as a platform to speak out about Russia’s war in Ukraine and the lack of diversity in the movie industry. But in Britain, such speeches rarely cause a media or political storm.
Who is this year’s host?
Alan Cumming, the Emmy and Tony Award-winning Scottish actor, will host the ceremony. As anyone who has seen him on “The Traitors” will expect, Cumming will bring some wit to the show — and maybe a bizarre outfit or two.
Cumming follows David Tennant, another Scottish host who last year opened the ceremony by walking through the audience while singing “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” a Scottish pop song that was a 1990s Billboard hit. Tennant prodded stars like James McAvoy, Anna Kendrick and Colman Domingo to join in, and Cynthia Erivo enthusiastically sang along without prompting.
Could one of the award presenters upstage Cumming? Perhaps. On Thursday, the BAFTA organizers announced that Paddington Bear — or at least the performers who portray him in a West End musical — will be presenting an award, too. Expect maximum cuteness.
Alex Marshall is a Times reporter covering European culture. He is based in London.
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