CINEMA RETURNS?
Why this year’s vitally diverse selection of nominees is a huge leap forward.
Will UK screens be back with a bang next month?
Back in September Teasers reported on the changes introduced to the nomination and voting process for the 2021 Baftas. Designed to improve diversity and better represent the modern film landscape, we concluded that “these new rules could prove to be a sea change moment for the British film industry”. If the 2021 nominations are anything to go by, the reforms have been resoundingly vindicated.
The biggest step forward comes in the Best Director category. In Bafta’s 73-year history, just six women had previously been nominated for the directing prize. In one year, Bafta has almost doubled that number, with four female nominees in 2021 – including awards frontrunner Chloé Zhao for Nomadland, as well as surprise recognition for Shannon Murphy (Babyteeth), Sarah Gavron (Rocks) and Jasmila Žbanić (Quo Vadis, Aida?). Only Nomadland was also nominated for Best Film meaning that, for once, Best
Director and Best Film aren’t being treated as synonymous.
In 2020, and not for the first time, Bafta was pilloried for failing to nominate a single person of colour for a major acting award. This year white nominees are in the minority in every acting category. Not coincidentally, this year’s crop of acting nominees are among the most interesting in Bafta history, with dependable veterans Anthony Hopkins and Frances McDormand standing shoulder to shoulder with terrific newcomers Bukky Bakray and Adarsh Gourav.
In the past the Baftas haven’t just been criticised for being ‘so white’, they’ve also failed to adequately celebrate British cinema, tending to recognise starry American productions over homegrown talent. That is resoundingly not the case this year, with Rocks’ seven nominations topping the leaderboard (joint with Nomadland), as well as significant recognition for under-the-radar gems Calm With Horses, His House and the upcoming Limbo.
Naturally, there are some puzzling omissions – Delroy Lindo, Carey Mulligan, Tenet (nommed for a sole VFX award) – and the true test will be if Bafta can keep this up next year and beyond. But it’s arguably the most exciting group of Bafta nominees ever. And with the ceremony taking place on 11 April, we’ll soon discover if the winners are just as thrilling. JF
‘IT’S ARGUABLY THE MOST EXCITING GROUP OF BAFTA NOMINEES EVER’