Although the major contenders are likely to overlap with the Oscars, there will be much more British representation at the Baftas.
British and Irish actors often perform better on their own soil, plus there are categories dedicated to outstanding British debut and outstanding British film, in addition to best overall film.
Likely nominees include I Swear, the uplifting story of a young man with Tourette’s growing up in 1980s Scotland, and the humorous and heartwarming The Ballad of Wallis Island, about an eccentric lottery winner trying to bring his favourite musical duo back together.
Other British films in contention include Pillion, a superb film about two men in a BDSM relationship, and the terrific screen adaptation of H is for Hawk, about a woman who buys and trains a goshawk while grieving her father’s death.
The other films longlisted for outstanding British film are The Choral, 28 Years Later, Ballad of a Small Player, Die My Love, Hamnet, Steve, Goodbye June, Warfare, Mr Burton, The Roses and Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy.
Many of the British and Irish stars who appear in those films could also score individual acting nominations, despite not showing up elsewhere in awards season.
They include Cillian Murphy (Steve), Carey Mulligan (The Ballad of Wallis Island), Harry Melling (Pillion), Emily Watson (Hamnet), Robert Aramayo and Pete Mullan (I Swear), and Andrea Riseborough and Brenda Blethyn (Dragonfly).
Other British actors in the running include Sinners stars Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo – both of whom were recognised in the supporting categories at the Oscar nominations last week.
