A political thriller, a vampire horror and a Shakespearean drama will compete at the BAFTAs, setting the stage for the Oscars with a diverse and British-leaning shortlist

LONDON: An offbeat political thriller, a vampire horror film and a period drama about Shakespeare will go head-to-head at the BAFTAs on Sunday.

Britain’s biggest film awards, seen as a precursor to the Oscars, regularly chart their own path with a diverse pool of nominees.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” leads the nominations with 14 nods, including for the coveted best film award.

It is followed by 13 nominations for the vampire period horror “Sinners”, which holds the all-time Oscars nominations record with 16.

Timothee Chalamet’s ping-pong drama “Marty Supreme” received 11 nods.

Slower, more intimate films were also highlighted among the best film nominees.

“Hamnet” explores William Shakespeare’s personal life, while Norwegian family drama “Sentimental Value” completes the five-strong shortlist.

A-list stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessie Buckley and Timothee Chalamet are expected to walk the red carpet at London’s Southbank Centre.

The ceremony will be hosted by Scottish actor Alan Cumming.

Although “Sinners” topped the Oscars nominations, “One Battle” starring DiCaprio remains strongly favoured.

It has won almost every precursor prize so far in this awards season.

“Hamnet” is also gaining traction as a surprise heavyweight contender.

It beat “Sinners” to win best drama film at the Golden Globes ceremony last month.

Long-considered a celebration of homegrown films, the BAFTAs could favour the UK and Irish-packed period drama.

Adapted from a novel by Maggie O’Farrell, “Hamnet” received 11 BAFTA nominations.

It portrays Shakespeare and his wife Agnes navigating the loss of their son in plague-ravaged Elizabethan England.

Jessie Buckley, who plays the grief-stricken Agnes, is the odds-on favourite for best leading actress.

She won the best drama actress honours at the Golden Globes.

The Irish actress faces Kate Hudson, Emma Stone, Chase Infiniti, Renate Reinsve and Rose Byrne.

Timothee Chalamet is gathering momentum for the best actor award after wins at the Critics Choice and Golden Globes.

A BAFTA best actor award could help cement his ambitions for an Oscar.

The 30-year-old star will face-off against DiCaprio and Michael B. Jordan.

Irish heartthrob Paul Mescal was not nominated for his role as Shakespeare in “Hamnet”.

Josh Safdie, Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler are in the running for the best director award.

Anderson won the equivalent prize at the Directors Guild of America Awards earlier this month.

The best director nominees also include Yorgos Lanthimos, Joachim Trier and Chloe Zhao.

Zhao, who won an Oscar for “Nomadland”, is nominated for “Hamnet”.

The awards have faced some criticism for their American-dominated roster.

Unlike France’s Cesar Awards or Spain’s Goya Awards, the BAFTAs are open to all nationalities.

“That means American films frequently rule the roost,” noted Variety Magazine.

This makes the ceremony a better predictor for the Oscars, but reduces chances for local productions to shine.

Wildly different genres will compete for the outstanding British film award.

“Hamnet” is pitted against commercial success “Bridget Jones, Mad About the Boy” and biographical film “I Swear”.

“I Swear” was the most nominated British film, with five nods.

It is based on a true story about a Scottish man whose life was changed by Tourette Syndrome.

“Sentimental Value” will compete in the foreign language film category.

It faces Brazilian crime thriller “The Secret Agent” and Cannes’ Palme d’Or winner “It Was Just An Accident”.

Palestinian docudrama “The Voice of Hind Rajab” is also nominated in that category.

 The Sun Malaysia