BAFTA Nominations Unveiled: “Oppenheimer” Takes Center Stage

Christopher Nolan’s film “Oppenheimer,” centered on the atomic bomb’s development, dominated this year’s EE British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) nominations, securing 13 nods, including Best Film. The competition in the Best Film category includes “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Poor Things,” with the latter following closely with 11 nominations. The other contenders are “Anatomy of a Fall” and “The Holdovers.”

While “Oppenheimer” gained momentum with major wins at the Golden Globes, its 13 BAFTA nominations are anticipated to strengthen its position for the Oscars, as both voting bodies overlap. Notably, “Barbie,” Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster, missed out on Best Film and Best Director nominations but earned Margot Robbie a Best Lead Actress nod.

In the Best Director category, Nolan, Justine Triet, and Alexander Payne face competition from Bradley Cooper (“Maestro”), Jonathan Glazer (“The Zone of Interest”), and Andrew Haigh (“All of Us Strangers”). The absence of nominations for “Barbie” stars, Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio, stirred discussions.

The Best Actor category includes Cillian Murphy, Bradley Cooper, Barry Keoghan, Paul Giamatti, Colman Domingo, and Teo Yoo. The Best Actress competition features Margot Robbie, Emma Stone, Carey Mulligan, Fantasia Barrino, Sandra Hüller, and Vivian Oparah.

The winners will be announced on Feb. 18, hosted by David Tennant, with the ceremony broadcast on BritBox in the United States. The BAFTA organizers’ efforts to enhance diversity in nominations, implemented in 2020, aim to spotlight smaller films, yet there’s acknowledgment that more work is needed to increase industry diversity. Sara Putt, BAFTA’s chair, emphasized ongoing commitments to fostering inclusivity.

The BAFTA nominations underline the diversity in cinematic offerings and set the stage for an exciting awards season.