Alan Cumming is hosting the BAFTAs this year (Image: Getty Images for BAFTA)
Television fans are eagerly anticipating tonight’s 79th EE BAFTA Film Awards, celebrating the very best in cinema at London’s Royal Festival Hall. Whilst broadcast coverage begins at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, the ceremony itself commences at 5pm.
Leading this year’s nominations is Paul Thomas Anderson’s compelling thriller ‘One Battle After Another’, which tops the charts with 14 nods, including Best Film and Best Director. Ryan Coogler’s vampire horror Sinners follows closely behind with 13 nominations, whilst both Hamnet and Marty Supreme have secured 11 nominations each.
Jessie Buckley (Hamnet) is widely tipped for Best Actress, with Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme) heavily favoured to scoop Best Actor.
The glittering evening will also showcase performances from Jessie Ware alongside the voices behind animated hit KPop Demon Hunters (EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami).
Scottish entertainer and The Traitors US favourite Alan Cumming takes on hosting duties for the very first time, following in the footsteps of fellow Scot David Tennant, who helmed the prestigious event for the previous two years.
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He replaces David Tennant, who has been the host for the last two years (Image: Getty Images for BAFTA)
It seems audiences are absolutely thrilled about the star’s presenting debut, with many sharing an identical three-word reaction to the announcement – that they ‘love that man’.
One viewer exclaimed: “Yesssss! I love Alan Cumming.”
Whilst another agreed: “I love this man. I’m sure we’ll have a great time with him.”
A third remarked: “BAFTA realised the power of having a Scottish host.”
A fourth person also shared an encounter with the 61 year old actor, director and presenter, revealing: “I saw him at a bar in NYC once and I left him alone for an hour then quietly asked for a picture.
“He thanked me for being respectful as he was just out with his friends then took a few pics. Very nice man.”
Additional distinguished presenters taking part in this year’s ceremony include Cillian Murphy, Stormzy, and even Paddington Bear.
Dame Donna Langley, chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment, will receive the academy’s highest accolade, the Fellowship Award, during the event.
Meanwhile, Clare Binns of Picturehouse Cinemas is being honoured for her substantial contribution to British cinema, receiving the Outstanding Contribution award.
Timothée Chalamet is expected to claim Best Actor for his role in Marty Supreme (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Complete list of nominees for the 79th EE BAFTA Film Awards
Major Categories
Best Film: Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Sentimental Value, Sinners.
Outstanding British Film: 28 Years Later, The Ballad of Wallis Island, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Die My Love, H Is For Hawk, Hamnet, I Swear, Mr Burton, Pillion, Steve.
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos (Bugonia), Chloé Zhao (Hamnet), Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme), Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value), Ryan Coogler (Sinners).
Leading Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), Emma Stone (Bugonia). Leading Actor: Robert Aramayo (I Swear), Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Michael B.Jordan (Sinners), Jesse Plemons (Bugonia).
Supporting Actress: Odessa A’zion (Marty Supreme), Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Sentimental Value), Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners), Carey Mulligan (The Ballad of Wallis Island), Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another), Emily Watson (Hamnet).
Supporting Actor: Benicio del Toro (One Battle After Another), Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Paul Mescal (Hamnet), Peter Mullan (I Swear), Sean Penn (One Battle After Another), Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value).
Screenplay and Special Awards
Original Screenplay: I Swear, Marty Supreme, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners.
Adapted Screenplay: The Ballad of Wallis Island, Bugonia, Hamnet, One Battle After Another, Pillion.
EE Rising Star (Public Vote): Robert Aramayo, Miles Caton, Chase Infiniti, Archie Madekwe, Posy Sterling.
Animated Film: Elio, Little Amélie, Zootropolis 2.
Documentary: 2000 Meters to Andriivka, Apocalypse in the Tropics, Cover-Up, Mr Nobody Against Putin, The Perfect Neighbor. Film Not in the English Language: It Was Just An Accident, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sirât, The Voice of Hind Rajab.
Film Not in the English Language: It Was Just An Accident, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sirât, The Voice of Hind Rajab.
