By Creative Media Times
The Shape of Water. (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Guillermo del Toro’s dark fantasy drama film “The Shape of Water” might have lost the grand prize at the Golden Globe Awards this past weekend, but today it led the nominations for the British Academy Film Awards, the organization announced Tuesday.
The Shape of Water” received 12 nominations including best picture, best director for del Toro, and leading actress for the film’s star Sally Hawkins. Currently playing in theaters, the film has received near universal acclaim from critics.
Also doing well are “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” and “Darkest Hour,” both receiving nine nominations a piece, followed by the sci-fi sequel “Blade Runner 2049” and World War II drama “Dunkirk,” with eight nominations each.
More commonly known as the BAFTAs, it is one of the strongest bellwether for the Oscars due mostly to an overlap between the voters on both organizations.
The BAFTAs will be held on February 18, two weeks before the Oscars, at the Royal Albert Hall in London and will be hosted by British actress and activist Joanna Lumley. She’s taking over actor Stephen Fry who stepped down after 12 years of hosting the BAFTA ceremonies.
Best film
Call Me by Your Name
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Outstanding British film
Darkest Hour
The Death of Stalin
God’s Own Country
Lady Macbeth
Paddington 2
For the full list of nominees for 2017 BAFTA Awards, go to: bafta.org
