British Film Awards Tonight: ‘One Battle’ and ‘Sinners’ Battle for Top Honors

Two major films are competing for the top prize at tonight's British Academy Film Awards ceremony in London. The politically-charged thriller 'One Battle After Another' leads with 14 nominations, while blues epic 'Sinners' follows closely with 13 nominations.

LONDON — Hollywood celebrities are gathering in London tonight for the British Academy Film Awards, where two blockbuster films are competing head-to-head for the evening’s biggest prizes.

The political thriller “One Battle After Another” enters the ceremony with the most recognition at 14 nominations, while the blues-themed epic “Sinners” trails closely behind with 13 nods from British film industry voters.

However, betting experts believe the Shakespearean drama “Hamnet” might surprise both frontrunners for the top award if voters are drawn to its emotional storytelling, English countryside backdrop, and powerful acting in Chloé Zhao’s adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s historical novel.

“Hamnet” and the table tennis adventure “Marty Supreme” each received 11 nominations, while Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” remake and the Norwegian family story “Sentimental Value” both earned eight nominations apiece.

These British honors, officially known as the EE BAFTA Film Awards, frequently signal which films will triumph at Hollywood’s Oscar ceremony scheduled for March 15. In Academy Award nominations, “Sinners” broke records with 16 nominations, while “One Battle After Another” secured 13.

A-list celebrities including Emma Stone, Cillian Murphy, Glenn Close and Ethan Hawke are anticipated to walk the red carpet outside London’s Royal Festival Hall before the formal ceremony begins, with Scottish performer Alan Cumming serving as host.

Cumming, known for hosting the American edition of “The Traitors” reality series, promised to maintain a “balance between celebration and mischief” during the evening.

Five films are vying for the BAFTA’s top honor: “One Battle After Another,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “Sinners” and “Sentimental Value.” The ceremony also highlights British cinema with a dedicated category featuring 10 domestic films including “The Ballad of Wallis Island,” “Pillion,” “I Swear” and “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.”

Six filmmakers are competing for the directing award: Paul Thomas Anderson for “One Battle,” Josh Safdie for “Marty Supreme,” Ryan Coogler for “Sinners,” Yorgos Lanthimos for the dystopian comedy “Bugonia,” Joachim Trier for “Sentimental Value” and Zhao for “Hamnet.” A victory for Zhao would make her the first woman to claim two BAFTA directing prizes, following her 2021 win for “Nomadland.”

In the leading actor race, oddsmakers favor Timothée Chalamet for “Marty Supreme,” competing against Leonardo DiCaprio for “One Battle After Another,” Ethan Hawke for Broadway drama “Blue Moon,” Michael B. Jordan for “Sinners,” Jesse Plemons for “Bugonia” and Robert Aramayo for his portrayal of a man with Tourette’s syndrome in “I Swear.”

The leading actress competition features heavy favorite Jessie Buckley for her role as Agnes Hathaway, William Shakespeare’s wife, in “Hamnet.” Her competition includes Rose Byrne for “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” Kate Hudson for “Song Sung Blue,” Chase Infiniti for “One Battle After Another,” Renate Reinsve for “Sentimental Value” and Emma Stone for “Bugonia.”

Three performers from “One Battle” — Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn — all earned supporting performance nominations.

The Associated Press received recognition in the documentary category through Mstyslav Chernov’s powerful Ukraine war film “2000 Meters to Andriivka,” which AP co-produced with Frontline PBS.

While 8,500 British film industry professionals select most winners, the Rising Star award relies on public voting and has successfully identified future major stars. This year’s candidates are Infiniti, Aramayo, “Sinners” actor Miles Caton and British performers Archie Madekwe and Posy Sterling.

Donna Langley, the British-born leader of NBCUniversal Entertainment, will receive the academy’s most prestigious recognition, the BAFTA fellowship.

Tonight’s ceremony begins at 2 p.m. Eastern time on BBC in Britain and 8 p.m. Eastern on E! network in America.