BAFTA outlines new rules for Director, Acting, plus key dates for 2022 awards

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced the rules and timeline for the EE British Academy Film Awards 2022, following its annual review of all categories. BAFTA’s Film Committee undertakes this review each year in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders across the industry. This review continues to build on the work of BAFTA’s 2020 Review which introduced sweeping changes to Awards, membership and the wider Academy.

As previously announced, the BAFTA Film Awards will take place on Sunday, March 13, 2022, with nominations to be announced on Thursday, February 3, 2022.

Last year, after backlash of a consistent lack of diversity among its nominations, BAFTA established the most sweeping overhaul of its awards in decades, including increasing membership diversity by over 1,000 after backlash of a consistent lack of diversity among its nominations. They also welcomed the return of longlists and chapter voting and established small committees (just 7-12 people) for nominations. Last year, this resulted in some shocking snubs like Olivia Colman for The Father and Carey Mulligan for Promising Young Woman, both of whom went on to be Oscar-nominated. With the new rules set in place in the acting categories (the top two vote-getters will automatically be nominated), this all but ensures snubs like this are less likely to happen this season.

As is the case for the Academy Awards this year, the 2022 BAFTAs will no longer allow DVDs for viewer voting. To qualify, all titles must also be made available to BAFTA voting members on BAFTA View, BAFTA’s online
viewing platform, as soon as possible after the date of release and within 60 days of UK release for a
minimum of 30 consecutive days.

Significant upgrades have been made to BAFTA View to improve member experience and functionality (further details to be announced), and Hard of Hearing (HOH) subtitles are now mandatory for all films made available on BAFTA View.

Special eligibility measures put in place for the 2021 Film Awards to take into account the Coronavirus pandemic will continue to cover films released 1 January – 30 June 2021. These films need to meet the lower qualifying threshold of a minimum of one theatrical screening per day for seven days (excluding festival screenings); or an approved UK VOD platform minimum 30-day release if the original intention of a theatrical release was not possible due to the pandemic.

From July 1, 2021 – March 11, 2022 films are eligible if they have been theatrically exhibited publicly to a paying audience on at least ten commercial screens in the UK for at least seven days in aggregate (excluding festival screenings).

Documentary and Film Not in the English Language categories continue to have a lower qualifying threshold and an extended eligibility period. These films can be entered into all categories if they have been exhibited publicly on at least one commercial screen in the UK for no fewer than seven days in aggregate (not including festival screenings); and their eligibility period runs until March 31, 2022.

Outstanding Debut eligibility also continues to have the lower qualifying threshold if films have been exhibited publicly on at least one commercial screen in the UK for no fewer than seven days in aggregate. For the first time, Debut titles may also qualify by screening at festival(s) included on the new Debut Qualifying Festival List. Debut titles releasing internationally (and not in UK) may also be eligible. These two key changes to this category are to ensure that the first film made by a debut British writer, director or producer will be considered (rather than their first film which would only qualify with a UK theatrical release), and is introduced as BAFTA continues to strengthen its support and shine a spotlight on British films and filmmakers.

Here are specific voting and rule changes to Director, Acting, Documentary and Sound categories that will go into effect for the 2022 awards.

Voting

Several changes have been introduced to the Film Award voting procedures this year, as the Film Committee continues to build on the recommendations and changes implemented following the BAFTA 2020 Review. Key changes include:

Director: the directing chapter will continue to vote in Round One for their top 20; of these the top seven male and female directors will be automatically longlisted, with the remaining three male and three female directors selected by the longlisting jury (previously the longlisting jury put through two male and two female directors to add to eight male and female directors voted for by the directing chapter). The voting process in Round Two and Three remain unchanged.

Performance categories: the top two performances in each of the four acting categories voted for by the acting chapter in Round One will be automatically nominated, otherwise the longlisting and nominating jury process introduced for the 2021 Awards will continue. Headshots of performers will also be published on BAFTA View for the first time.

Documentary: Round One voting will continue to be carried out by the Documentary opt-in chapter to create the longlist of 15 titles with the top two from this round being automatically nominated. This year a specialist jury is also being introduced for Round Two, to vote for the remaining three nominees. The winner will continue to be selected by the opt-in chapter (previously the opt-in chapter determined all nominations after Round One).

Sound: Films longlisted for Sound are invited to submit an eight-minute clip (unedited from the film) to be shown to Sound chapter members at 195 Piccadilly ahead of the Round Two nominations voting deadline for the Sound chapter.

Photo: BAFTA/Carlo Paloni