Last year, the Bafta Awards came under heavy backlash for the lack of diversity and black nominations; following the backlash it seems the award body tried to make it up for this year.
The British Academy of Film and Television Awards BAFTA have recently released the 2021 list of nominees. After a number of protest boycotts of the awards show, this year’s nominations list, however, has a bit of…colour.
Daniel Kaluuya has been nominated for “Best Supporting Actor” for his role in the riveting Fred Hampton biopic; Judas and the Black Messiah. The film has also been nominated for “Best Cinematography” and “Best Casting”. Kaluuya was also recently awarded the Critics Choice award for “Best Supporting Actor” while the film itself was nominated for “Best Ensemble”. Additionally, the late Chadwick Boseman is up for “Best Actor” for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. He too was also awarded a Critics Choice award in the same category.
Nigerian filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr has been nominated in the “Best British Short Film” category for his experimental film, Lizard. Moreover, Davies Jr’s film is the first Nigerian production to ever win the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival this year.
Oliver Hermanus’ exquisite film Moffie has been nominated in the “Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer”. The South African film tells the story of a closeted homosexual teenager who is conscripted and sent to war on the Angolan border in 1981.
“Rocks” is up for outstanding British film, as well as outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer. The film is also nominated for best director, original screenplay, leading actress, supporting actress and casting.