“2025 BAFTA Buzz: ‘Conclave’ and ‘Emilia Pérez’ Shine as Daniel Craig Takes a Surprising Miss”

What does this signify for the best picture competition?published at 12:43 Greenwich Mean Time

12:43 GMT

Steven McIntosh
Entertainment journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Perhaps the most fascinating and thrilling aspect of this year’s awards season is its uncertainty. Currently, there is no agreement on what will ultimately clinch best picture at the Oscars on 2 March.

Six films are considered to have a viable chance at victory – Conclave, Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Emilia Pérez, and Wicked.

However, while the Oscars have 10 best picture nominees, Bafta only boasts five positions available for best film, leading critics to speculate on which of the aforementioned films would miss out.

Despite its success in other categories and its significant box office revenue, the outcome was Wicked. It will almost certainly still receive an Oscar nomination, but its lack of inclusion in best film at Bafta indicates that its chances of seizing the Academy Award are less than previously assumed.

In the meantime, Conclave‘s achievement in obtaining the most nominations is a telling indicator of the film’s strength, although a contributing factor to it securing one more nomination than Emilia Pérez is its eligibility for the best British film category.

Emilia Pérez being second in line for the highest number of nominations also suggests support, but two of the musical’s nominations fall within the same category, leading to more divided opinions among audiences.

Both films could easily be surpassed by The Brutalist or Anora, both of which made a strong impact at Bafta and have garnered significant acclaim from critics and viewers alike.

A Complete Unknown is perhaps trailing slightly, especially after James Mangold did not receive a nomination in Bafta’s best director category.