BAFTA Preview and Predictions

As we enter the final stretch of the Oscar race we come to the BAFTAs (British Academy of Film and Television Arts), the last stop of the precursor train. Often, by the time we get to the BAFTAs we’ve seen the same winners so many times that there is little left in the room for surprise. That’s a little different this year in that the race between Gravity and 12 Years a Slave will collide once again. Both films are nominated for Best Film, among numerous others. Both films have won the PGA (Producers Guild of America) and 12 Years a Slave won the Golden Globe. The prediction volley between the two films reaches a boiling point with the BAFTAs and could settle the likely Best Picture Oscar winner in doing so.

If 12 Years a Slave wins (as most are predicting) then its path to Oscar becomes clear. But, if Gravity pulls off an upset (it’s expected to win Outstanding British Film here) then the race will be a true nail-biter. Gravity and 12YAS seem set to split the lion’s share of awards at BAFTA, with the former gobbling up the techs and Best Director and the latter easily winning the acting and screenplay awards. One thing that doesn’t stand in 12YAS‘s way of dominating those acting awards is the shutout of Dallas Buyers Club and with it, Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively. Each are heavily favored to win Oscars in their categories but as they are not nominated for the BAFTA it opens the door for 12YAS‘s Chiwetel Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender to triumph in Lead and Supporting.

From the perspective of AwardsWatch’s Gold Rush Gang, there isn’t much disagreement on the majority of winners until you get to a few of the below-the-line categories. Production Design, Costume Design and Makeup & Hairstyling see votes split between three films; American Hustle, Behind the Candelabra and The Great Gatsby. Captain Phillips‘ recent editing with with ACE (American Cinema Editors) has a few GRG members predicting it to win Editing here as well, again over Gravity.

Check out the full list of predictions by most of our members.

BAFTA – Gold Rush Gang Predictions

Best Film
12 Years a Slave – Peter, Erik, Michael, Kenneth, Ben, Dennis, Beth, Richard

Best Director
Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity – Peter, Erik, Michael, Kenneth, Ben, Dennis, Beth, Richard

Best Leading Actor
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave – Peter, Erik, Michael, Kenneth, Ben, Dennis, Beth, Richard

Best Leading Actress
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine – Peter, Erik, Michael, Kenneth, Ben, Dennis, Beth, Richard

Best Supporting Actor
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave – Peter, Erik, Michael, Kenneth, Ben, Dennis, Beth, Richard

Best Supporting Actress
Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave – Peter, Erik, Michael, Kenneth, Ben, Dennis, Beth, Richard

Best Original Screenplay
American Hustle – Peter, Erik, Michael, Kenneth, Ben, Dennis, Beth, Richard

Best Adapted Screenplay
12 Years a Slave – Peter, Erik, Michael, Kenneth, Ben, Dennis, Beth, Richard

Outstanding British Film
Gravity – Peter, Erik, Ben, Dennis, Beth, Richard

Best Film Not in the English Language
Blue is the Warmest Color – Peter, Erik, Ben, Dennis, Beth, Richard

Best Animated Film
Frozen – Peter, Erik, Michael, Kenneth, Ben, Dennis, Beth, Richard

Best Documentary
The Act of Killing – Peter, Erik, Michael, Kenneth, Ben, Dennis, Beth, Richard

Best Original Music
Gravity – Peter, Erik, Ben, Dennis, Beth, Richard

Best Editing
Captain Phillips – Michael, Dennis
Gravity – Peter, Erik, Ben, Beth, Richard

Best Cinematography
Gravity – Peter, Erik, Michael, Kenneth, Ben, Dennis, Beth, Richard

Best Production Design
12 Years a Slave – Beth
The Great Gatsby – Peter, Erik, Kenneth, Ben, Dennis, Richard

Best Costume Design
Behind the Candelabra – Peter, Erik, Dennis
The Great Gatsby – Michael, Ben, Beth, Richard

Best Make Up & Hair
American Hustle – Michael, Kenneth, Ben, Beth, Richard
Behind the Candelabra – Peter, Erik, Dennis

Best Sound
Gravity – Peter, Erik, Michael, Kenneth, Ben, Dennis, Beth, Richard

Best Special Visual Effects
Gravity – Peter, Erik, Michael, Kenneth, Ben, Dennis, Beth, Richard