'Conclave' and 'Emilia Perez' top nominations for BAFTAs

"Conclave" and "Emilia Perez" led the shortlist of films unveiled on Wednesday, vying for recognition at Britain's BAFTA awards as the race for Oscar glory gathers pace.

"Conclave," a fictionalized account of high-stakes horse-trading in the Vatican after the death of a pope, earned 12 nominations, while the surreal narco-thriller musical "Emilia Perez" followed with 11.

Both will compete for the coveted best film award at next month's ceremony.

The epic immigrant drama "The Brutalist" received nine nominations, including best film. "Wicked" (seven) and "Dune: Part Two" (seven) were the other leading contenders.

The unexpected hit "Kneecap," a docu-fiction about three Belfast upstarts who rap in the Irish language, won six awards for original screenplay and outstanding British film.

French director Jacques Audiard's Mexico-set "Emilia Perez" and "The Brutalist" were the big winners at the Golden Globes earlier this month, and both appear strong contenders for top gongs at the Oscars on March 2.

FILE PHOTO: Cast members Karla Sofia Gascon, Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez attend a screening of the film Emilia Perez on the opening night of the 28th Annual American French Film Festival in Los Angeles, California, U.S., October 29, 2024. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo

However, this year's awards season is seen as highly unpredictable.

An international crop of movies is considered potential big winners in Hollywood, and at the BAFTAs, the highlight of the annual British film calendar held two weeks earlier.

Scottish actor David Tennant will host the event, which will take place on February 16 at London's Royal Festival Hall.

Cannes favorite "Anora" and Bob Dylan's biopic "A Complete Unknown" will also compete for the best film BAFTA in the British capital.

Actor Adrien Brody attends the premiere of the film "The Brutalist" at Vista Theatre in Los Angeles, California, U.S., December 5, 2024. REUTERS/Etienne Laurent

Meanwhile, the director award pits Audiard against Edward Berger ("Conclave"), Sean Baker ("Anora"), Brady Corbet ("The Brutalist"), Denis Villeneuve ("Dune: Part Two"), and Coralie Fargeat ("The Substance").

Karla Sofia Gascon, the transgender star of "Emilia Perez," will compete with Cynthia Erivo ("Wicked"), Marianne Jean-Baptiste ("Hard Truths"), Mikey Madison ("Anora"), Demi Moore ("The Substance"), and Saoirse Ronan ("The Outrun") for best actress recognition.

The leading actor award will see Adrien Brody ("The Brutalist"), Ralph Fiennes ("Conclave"), Timothee Chalamet ("A Complete Unknown"), Colman Domingo ("Sing Sing"), Hugh Grant ("Heretic") and Sebastian Stan ("The Apprentice") all compete.