It’s a good year for films about British geniuses, with Stephen Hawking biopic The Theory of Everything picking up ten nods for the 2015 EE British Academy Film Awards and Alan Turing biopic The Imitation Game, following closely with nine nominations. Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel leads the nominations with eleven nods.
Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken was snubbed by the Academy, receiving no nominations, as was the upcoming Martin Luther King biopic Selma.
Best Film nods went to Birdman, Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything.
As predicted, Eddie Redmayne receives a nod for Leading Actor for his visceral performance of noted scientist Stephen Hawking whilst Benedict Cumberbatch picks up a nod for his portrayal of gifted mathematician and code-breaker Alan Turing. Ralph Fiennes gets a nod for his portrayal of barmy hotel concierge and art-thief Gustave in The Grand Budapest Hotel. Michael Keaton (Birdman) and Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler) also receive nods.
Felicity Jones joins her on-screen partner Eddie Redmayne with a nomination for Leading Actress for her role as Jane Wilde-Hawking. Amy Adams is also nominated for Tim Burton‘s Big Eyes. Julianne Moore (Still Alice), Reece Witherspoon (Wild) and Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) round up the nominations.
The BAFTAs usually serve well in predicting the Academy Award nominations. The ceremony announcing the winners will take place on Sunday, February 8. It will be hosted by Stephen Fry and broadcast on BBC One.