'Interesting scenario' as three films get eight nominations apiece

Blockbuster sci-fi spectacle Avatar, coming-of-age movie An Education and Iraq war drama The Hurt Locker lead this year's film Bafta nominations with eight nods apiece.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Jan 2010, 09:18 BST
Updated 22nd Jan 2010, 09:20 BST

District 9 has seven nominations; Inglourious Basterds and Up In The Air have six nominations apiece; and Coco Before Chanel, Nowhere Boy, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire and Up each receive four nominations.

The Orange British Academy Film Awards will take place on February 21 at the Royal Opera House in London.

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Film critic Mark Kermode said the three-way tie for the most-nominated Bafta films provided an "interesting" scenario – which was also a very healthy one.

He said: "You've got The Hurt Locker and Avatar, both of which are expected to do very well in the American awards ceremonies.

"And of course, An Education, which is flying the flag for home-grown talent.I think in America Avatar is going to be triumphant, but over here An Education has got a very good chance.

Film4 received six Bafta nominations in total, for Nowhere Boy and The Lovely Bones, which is based on Alice Sebold's best-selling novel.

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Tessa Ross, head of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama, said: "These nominations are testament to the wide range of hugely creative talent that exists both in the UK and globally, and Film4 is delighted to be able to play a part in the development of these films."

Shortlist highlights

Best film:

Avatar; An Education; The Hurt Locker; Precious; Up In The Air.

Leading actor:

Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart); George Clooney (Up In The Air); Colin Firth (A Single Man); Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker); Andy Serkis (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll).

Leading actress:

Carey Mulligan (An Education); Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones); Gabourey Sidibe (Precious); Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia); Audrey Tautou (Coco Before Chanel).

Supporting actor:

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Alec Baldwin (It's Complicated); Christian McKay (Me And Orson Welles); Alfred Molina (An Education); Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones); Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds).

Supporting actress:

Anne-Marie Duff (Nowhere Boy); Vera Farmiga (Up In The Air); Anna Kendrick (Up In The Air); Mo'Nique (Precious); Kristin Scott Thomas (Nowhere Boy).

Outstanding British film:

An Education; Fish Tank; In The Loop; Moon; Nowhere Boy.

Animated film:

Coraline; Fantastic Mr Fox; Up.

Related topics:IraqAlec Baldwin