With the 2025 EE BAFTA Film Awards ceremony set for Sunday, February 16, the organizers have unveiled the longlist of films slated for nominations, showcasing the best talents from the cinematic world. Out of 235 films submitted for consideration, this year’s longlist reflects the diversity and creativity across categories, where animated features have transcended their own genre to shine within various significant categories.
Among the standout films is All We Imagine as Light, directed by the acclaimed Payal Kapadia. The film has garnered recognition with nominations for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film not in the English Language. Undoubtedly, this recognition adds weight to Kapadia's cinematic vision, especially after her film was overlooked as India’s official entry to the Oscars, favoring Kiran Rao’s Laapata Ladies instead.
This year sees animated films like Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl making strides beyond their category, finding themselves nominated for Outstanding British Film and Original Score. A lively mix of ensemble performances and narrative depth are evident as the nominations reflect both mainstream popularity and artistic merit.
At the helm of the longlist is Emilia Pérez, which has emerged as the film with the most nominations across 15 categories, including Best Film and Best Director. This Spanish-language feature not only resonates with LGBTQ+ themes but also binds its narrative around the personal and societal struggles faced by its characters. Directed by Jacques Audiard, it paints the vivid story of Rita, played by Zoe Saldaña, as she navigates her position amid cartel pressures and personal desires.
Each nominated film exemplifies the varied and vibrant storytelling styles deserving of recognition. Other films like Dune: Part Two, and Conclave also exhibit strong showings within their categories, creating stiff competition as BAFTA voting members gear up for the final nominations. Notably, All We Imagine as Light stands shoulder to shoulder with works from other renowned filmmakers, heightening public anticipation for this year's awards.
The qualifying films submit their material to be reviewed by BAFTA’s voting members, allowing for thorough evaluations based on established cinematic standards. From January 6 to January 10, members will cast their votes to determine the nominees, leading up to the announcement on January 15 via the BAFTA YouTube channel.
While All We Imagine as Light and Emilia Pérez are gaining international attention, the competition signifies broader themes across the cinematic spectrum. The selection resonates deeply with the complexity and humanity of modern-day narratives, as evidenced by the compelling stories these films share.
Notably, directors like Denis Villeneuve for Dune: Part Two and Sean Baker for Anora are included among the nominees, showcasing the heft of talent contributing to this year’s cinematic dialogue.
“What would you like to see nominated on Wednesday 15 January?” invites BAFTA’s Twitter, perfectly capturing the sentiment among the film community eagerly awaiting the upcoming announcements.
With the final BAFTA nominations approaching, each film's performance at the awards promises to significantly impact the filmmakers’ futures and the shaping of narrative cinema. BAFTA has consistently been pivotal, not only recognizing excellence but also propelling filmmakers onto international platforms, as seen with the recognition of Kapadia's work.
Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light previously received international accolades, winning the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival. Following its longlist announcement, the film also became available for streaming on Indian OTT platforms as of January 3, making it accessible to wider audiences very soon after gaining notice.
The recognition of films at this level affords them the opportunity to inspire dialogue, showcase diverse perspectives, and reinforce the significance of film as art. The BAFTA’s unique position serves to highlight compelling stories and nurture the talents of filmmakers across the globe.
Films like Emilia Pérez, whose story encourages empathy and exploration of the human experience, show the power of cinema to address social issues sensitively. The convergence of artistic merit, societal reflection, and audience engagement exemplifies what the BAFTAS strive to encapsulate.
Now, as voting members prepare for the impending nominations and audiences anticipate the ceremony on February 16, the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards loom as not just another awards show, but as a celebration of the transformative power of film and the storytellers behind the lens.