It's been a funny year for awards ceremonies. In the UK it's always a bit weird because of how much later we get to see all the winners and nominees from Hollywood and afar. But its never felt as offbeat as it does this year.
I've only managed to see around half of the potential best picture winners at the BAFTAs this year compared to all of last year's, and none have been in the cinema. All the streamers look poised to win big, and it sort of leaves a bitter taste.
But with the general buzz of awards season well under way following the Golden Globes and Critics' Choice awards it's still important to know who's been nominated for the big film awards and it's still fun to predict who might win big. Typically, if you win an award in the BAFTAs it's fair to assume that it's good.
But at the end of the day, let's not be led to believe that over-aggrandised awards ceremonies can be the one true determining factor of a 'good film'. In a year where the true film experience has felt few and far between it's just nice to celebrate their importance in our world.
So let's cut to the chase. Here's every 2021 BAFTA nomination and my guess at who's taking them home.
Best Film
The Father
The Mauritanian
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
The Trial Of The Chicago 7
Prediction: Nomadland
After all the hype surrounding this film and the sheer number of awards its already taken (including my predicted Golden Globe), it's hard not to root for Nomadland.
Outstanding British Film
Calm With Horses
The Dig
The Father
His House
Limbo
The Mauritanian
Mogul Mowgli
Promising Young Woman
Rocks
Saint Maud
Prediction: The Father
I've sadly only seen 5 on this list of British films, but I'm going to go with The Father nonetheless. It's that Anthony Hopkins/Olivia Coleman combo that really makes this one a promising choice.
Leading Actress
Bukky Bakray (Rocks)
Radha Blank (The 40-Year-Old Version)
Vanessa Kirby (Pieces Of A Woman)
Frances McDormand (Nomadland)
Wunmi Mosaku (His House)
Alfre Woodard (Clemency)
Prediction: Vanessa Kirby (Pieces Of A Woman)
I incorrectly voted for Kirby as a Golden Globe winner, but seeing as the winner of that award isn't featured here at all and considering Kirby is British I'll vote for her again. She's exceptional.
Leading Actor
Riz Ahmed (Sound Of Metal)
Anthony Hopkins (The Father)
Adarsh Gourav (The White Tiger)
Mads Mikkelsen (Another Round)
Tahar Rahim (The Mauritanian)
Chadwick Boseman (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom)
Prediction: Chadwick Boseman (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom)
This award very much feels signed, sealed and delivered. It's not because he tragically left the world of acting too soon, but because he carries Ma Rainey's Black Bottom all the way.
Supporting Actress
Niamh Algar (Calm With Horses)
Kosar Ali (Rocks)
Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm)
Dominique Fishback (Judas And The Black Messiah)
Ashley Madekwe (County Lines)
Yuh-Jung Youn (Minari)
Prediction: Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm)
She didn't get the Golden Globe, but she certainly did get the Critics' Choice award. I've got to go for her again! She's simply hilarious as Borat's daughter.
Supporting Actor
Daniel Kaluuya (Judas And The Black Messiah)
Barry Keoghan (Calm With Horses)
Alan Kim (Minari)
Leslie Odom Jr. (One Night In Miami…)
Clarke Peters (Da 5 Bloods)
Paul Raci (Sound Of Metal)
Prediction: Daniel Kaluuya (Judas And The Black Messiah)
He's been sweeping all of these awards, and Judas And The Black Messiah is one of my hastily predicted 'films of 2021'. So there's only one choice here for me.
Adapted Screenplay
The Dig
The Father
The Mauritanian
Nomadland
The White Tiger
Prediction: Nomadland
Again, being the year this is I have only caught one of these, and The Dig's screenplay certainly wasn't water-tight. It's got to go to the most anticipated film of the year.
Original Screenplay
Another Round
Mank
Promising Young Woman
Rocks
The Trial Of The Chicago 7
Prediction: Promising Young Woman
Yes, Aaron Sorkin did write The Trial of the Chicago 7. But as a screenplay in its own right, Promising Young Woman appears to be a far more intriguing concept than Chicago 7's.
Cinematography
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
The Mauritanian
News Of The World
Nomadland
Prediction: Nomadland
Quite simply, I disliked almost everything about Mank. Except the cinematography. But I've seen clips from Nomadland and it definitely feels like its getting yet another award here.
EE Rising Star Award
Bukky Bakray
Conrad Khan
Kingsley Ben-Adir
Morfydd Clark
Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù
Prediction: Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù
This one is potentially the toughest to call. There's plenty of exceptional talents here, but I enjoyed Dìrísù in Gangs Of London and again in His House so why on Earth not him? If not then Clark is pretty close behind.
Documentary
Collective
David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet
The Dissident
My Octopus Teacher
The Social Dilemma
Prediction: David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet
For me, this is the easiest to predict. It's the most important documentary made over the last few years, by a man with an immeasurable influence on opinion and impact on British identity.
Film Not in the English Language
Another Round
Dear Comrades!
Les Misérables
Minari
Quo Vadis, Aida?
Prediction: Minari
Although the validity of Minari in this category does come into serious contention (it's set in America and written by an American), Minari seems set to win this one again.
Costume Design
Ammonite
The Dig
Emma
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
Prediction: Emma
This must be the first category I've actually seen 80% of. With that in mind, I can safely say that I thought the costumes in Emma were full of vivid colour and eloquence. It wins.
Make Up & Hair
The Dig
Hillbilly Elegy
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
Pinocchio
Prediction: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Although Emma could probably win this too, the make up on Viola Davis alone in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is enough to have this in the bag.
Original Score
Mank
Minari
News Of The World
Promising Young Woman
Soul
Prediction: Soul
Although it's disappointing not to see Tenet in this category nearly enough, Soul's score was by far the best of this lot. It's an easy choice.
Editing
The Father
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound Of Metal
The Trial Of The Chicago 7
Prediction: The Trial Of The Chicago 7
I've seen one of these. So, in a category such as this, I can only go with the one I've actually seen.
Production Design
The Dig
The Father
Mank
News Of The World
Rebecca
Prediction: Mank
I'm not sure why Emma hasn't been nominated here, but in its absence I suppose Mank ought to win something at the Baftas. This wouldn't be a terrible decision either.
Sound
Greyhound
News Of The World
Nomadland
Soul
Sound Of Metal
Prediction: Sound of Metal
It's literally got the word "sound" in the title.
Special Visual Effects
Greyhound
The Midnight Sky
Mulan
The One And Only Ivan
Tenet
Prediction: Tenet
If Tenet doesn't win this I'd be surprised. None of the visual effects were achieved how you think they might be. Instead, it was a meticulous process. It's got to win this.