Announced this evening (February 14) at a ceremony hosted by Stephen Fry from London’s Royal Opera House, the BAFTAs are the last major film awards before this year’s Oscars are announced on February 28. Here are five ways tonight’s winners could have an impact on the Academy members about to vote for Hollywood’s top gongs.
1. Though Spotlight is still bookmakers’ favourite to win Best Picture at the Oscars later this month, The Revenant has now won the top prize at both the Golden Globes and the BAFTAs. Alejandro G. Inarritu has been named Best Director on both occasions too, and Leonardo DiCaprio has taken home both Best Actor prizes. Surely The Revenant is now the film to beat at LA’s Kodak Theater on February 28?
2. After his Golden Globes win, Sylvester Stallone is considered frontrunner for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. But Stallone wasn’t even nominated for the equivalent BAFTA, which went tonight to Bridge Of Spies‘ Mark Rylance. The British actor is a Tony Award-winner who’s incredibly well regarded in the industry, so don’t be surprised if he denies Sly his sentimental victory later this month.
3. After collecting four prizes in technical categories tonight, it looks increasingly likely that last year’s surprise smash Mad Max: Fury Road will be rewarded in some form at the Oscars. And quite right too.
4. Nobody seems to think Kate Winslet is going to the win the Best Supporting Actress Oscar, but she’s now taken home the equivalent prizes at both the Golden Globes and the BAFTAs. Only a fool would count her out entirely now.
5. Oh, and though this has nothing to do with the actual awards, the Oscars might want to book Rebel Wilson as a presenter if they’re looking to make this year’s ceremony pop. Her lolzy intro before handing out the Best Supporting Actor gong certainly got people talking on Twitter, though the response to her joke about practising her “transgender face” wasn’t universally positive.
Dear @BAFTA, please can you give Rebel Wilson an award for best intro? ? #BAFTAs
— BBC One (@BBCOne) February 14, 2016
Rebel, you are awesome! @RebelWilson #BAFTA #bafta2016 pic.twitter.com/sg2X0OnrPA
— Em F Ⓜ️ (@efellingham) February 14, 2016
Rebel Wilson: absolutely hilarious.
— David Baddiel (@Baddiel) February 14, 2016
I'd LOVE for Rebel Wilson to present an award to the trans stars of the ace @TangerineFilm and learn some respect https://t.co/ZTOQMrvA4V
— Mr Del Bra Burner (@nundmc) February 14, 2016
Rebel Wilson made a race joke, a dick joke, a non-offensive trans joke then flirted with Idris Elba at the BAFTAs… hero
— ℙ???? ????? (@SSJBens) February 14, 2016
Did rebel wilson really just make a trans joke
— connor ? (@squiidrings) February 14, 2016