Tis the Season: The BAFTA's

The British Academy of Film and Television, essentially the British equivalent to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, have announced their nominations for the BAFTA's, essentially the equivalent of the Oscar. Leading the pack with eight nominations apiece are international phenomenon, AVATAR, critical darling, THE HURT LOCKER and British pride, AN EDUCATION. Each of these three films will compete for Best Film alongside PRECIOUS and UP IN THE AIR. Missing out on a Best Film nod but scoring seven nominations, is DISTRICT 9. That is one nomination more than favorites, INGLORIOUS BASTERDS and UP IN THE AIR. This is definitely good news for AN EDUCATION and THE HURT LOCKER as these indie hits have not been seen by that large an audience and need as much exposure as they can get to score Oscar nods. AVATAR is essentially a lock for a Best Picture nod now at the Oscars and I'm happy to see that the BAFTA voters were smart enough to leave its "original" screenplay off the ballot. Another notable absence is Sandra Bullock for Leading Actress in THE BLIND SIDE. Other snubs include NINE and THE DAMNED UNITED, neither of which received any love whatsoever and British-themed films, BRIGHT STAR and THE YOUNG VICTORIA, which each only earned one nod in the production categories. The BAFTA winners will be announced February 21.

Here is a list of the nominees in the major categories ...
(Click any highlighted title for the Black Sheep review)

BEST FILM
AVATAR
AN EDUCATION
THE HURT LOCKER
PRECIOUS
UP IN THE AIR

DIRECTOR
James Cameron, AVATAR
Neill Blomkamp, DISTRICT 9
Lone Scherfig, AN EDUCATION
Kathryn Bigelow, THE HURT LOCKER
Quentin Tarantino, INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
THE HANGOVER
THE HURT LOCKER
INGLORIOUS BASTERDS
A SERIOUS MAN
UP!

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
DISTRICT 9
AN EDUCATION
IN THE LOOP
PRECIOUS
UP IN THE AIR

LEADING ACTOR
Jeff Bridges, CRAZY HEART
George Clooney, UP IN THE AIR
Colin Firth, A SINGLE MAN
Jeremy Renner, THE HURT LOCKER
Andy Serkis, SEX & DRUGS & ROCK & ROLL

LEADING ACTRESS
Carey Mulligan, AN EDUATION
Saoirse Ronan, THE LOVELY BONES
Gabourey Sidibe, PRECIOUS
Meryl Streep, JULIE & JULIA
Audrey Tautou, COCO BEFORE CHANEL

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alec Baldwin, IT'S COMPLICATED
Christian McKay, ME AND ORSON WELLES
Alfred Molina, AN EDUCATION
Stanley Tucci, THE LOVELY BONES
Christoph Waltz, INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Anne-Marie Duff, NOWHERE BOY
Vera Farmiga, UP IN THE AIR
Anna Kendrick, UP IN THE AIR
Mo'Nique, PRECIOUS
Kristen Scott Thomas, NOWHERE BOY

ANIMATED FILM
CORALINE
FANTASTIC MR. FOX
UP!

BRITISH FILM
AN EDUCATION
FISH TANK
IN THE LOOP
MOON
NOWHERE BOY

For a full list of nominees, please visit the BAFTA website.