Carol, the visually ravishing love story from director Todd Haynes, has received nine nominations for next month’s BAFTA Film Awards, the same number as Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed Cold War drama Bridge of Spies. This summer’s most exhilarating blockbuster, Mad Max: Fury Road, is also a leading contender with seven nominations, while period drama Brooklyn and sci-fi film The Martian earn six apiece.
Last year’s winner Eddie Redmayne receives a Leading Actor nomination for his performance as trans pioneer Lili Elbe in The Danish Girl, while his co-star Alicia Vikander earns a rare two separation acting nominations: Leading Actress for The Danish Girl and Supporting Actress for her performance as a sentient robot in Alex Garland’s indie sci-fi hit Ex Machina. Her competition in both categories will include Carol‘s 1950s lovers, with Cate Blanchett nominated for Leading Actress and Rooney Mara recognized in the Supporting Actress category.
Asif Kapadia’s widely praised film about the late Amy Winehouse, Amy, is nominated for both the Documentary prize and Outstanding British Film, where its competition includes The Danish Girl, Ex Machina and Brooklyn. Meanwhile, record-breaking blockbuster Star Wars: The Force Awakens is shortlisted in four categories including the EE Rising Star Award, a category in which break-out actor John Boyega will compete against Fifty Shades of Grey‘s Dakota Johnson and The Diary of a Teenage Girl’s Bel Powley. Other actors in contention for prizes include Leonardo DiCaprio, who is favorite to win Leading Actor for his role in chilly western The Revenant, and Saoirse Ronan, who will compete for Leading Actress for her performance in Brooklyn.
This year’s BAFTA Film Awards will take place at London’s Royal Opera House on February 14. In the meantime, the winners of this year’s Golden Globe Awards are due to be announced in Los Angeles this Sunday (January 10), and the Academy Awards will conclude the film industry’s annual awards season on February 28.