Forget the Oscars, here come the Baftas

The Oscars may be more in- your- face, but when it comes to understated glamour with a classy edge, the British Academy Film Awards ( SUNDAY, BBC ONE, 9PM) - or Baftas, to you and us - win hands down.

Stephen Fry will be hosting the 66th Bafta ceremony from, surrounded by A- listers from across the globe who gaze at him in awe while wondering if they will be taking home one of the coveted Bafta masks.

“Hard as it may be for some characteristically sceptical Britons to believe, the Baftas have real kudos, reputation and cachet all over the world of film- making,” says Fry. “I, old as I am, never cease to be shamelessly glamorised by the sight of so many legendary names who come every year as nominees and presenters.”

The only man who knows for sure that he’ll be adding one of the famous trophies to his mantelpiece is Alan Parker. The advertising copywriter- turned- Oscarnominated director has a string of big- screen successes under his belt, including Midnight Express, Fame, Mississippi Burning, Bugsy Malone and Evita - he’s also the latest film- maker to be awarded a Bafta fellowship, following in the footsteps of the likes of Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg and last year’s recipient, Martin Scorsese.

John Willis, chairman of the Academy, says: “Sir Alan Parker is a hugely distinctive film- maker, and a man of uncompromising vision and personality. He has made an immense contribution to the British filmindustry, receiving a wide range of critical and public acclaim for his writing, producing and directing across almost 40 years of film- making.

As for the man himself, he’s suitably thrilled: “When you make your first film, you’re sure it will be your last. And then you squeeze your eyes together a nd suddenly, 40 years later, you’re at Bafta getting an award like this. I’m of course enormously flattered and honoured.”

As f or t he rest of t he evening’s awards, Lincoln leads the way with 10 nominations, closely followed by Les Misérables and Life of Pi with nine each.

In any other year, Hugh Jackman would be a shoe- in for Best Actor for Les Mis, but it would be a major surprise if Daniel Day- Lewis didn’t beat him to it for his extraordinary turn in Spielberg’s biopic of the 14th US president.

Best Actress is a far more open category, with Jennifer Lawrence ( Silver Linings Playbook), Emmanuelle Riva ( Amour) and Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty) all in with a good chance.

Don’t bet against the likes of Skyfall ( eight nods), Argo ( seven) or AnnaKarenina( six) doing well either.