Screen’s group of anonymous Bafta voters give us their thoughts on the longlists for the 2023 Bafta film awards, which were announced on January 6. All Quiet On The Western Front leads the way with 15 longlist spots.
Screenwriter, male, Bafta voter
What did you think of the Bafta longlists? Were any of your favourites omitted from categories?
The longlists look pretty reasonable. There’s a world in which the gloriously outrageous Norwegian comedy Sick Of Myself would have been listed in screenplay and performance categories as well as in foreign-language film. I imagine voters didn’t see it because you don’t forget it once you have.
Brian Tyree Henry should be on the longlist for best supporting actor in Causeway. The Quiet Girl ought to be on any best film list.
What films and talent are you now hoping will be nominated?
I’m waving the baton for the complex, profoundly cinematic Tár to be nominated for best film. Animation chapter voters can be a little conventional but I hope that the lovelyMarcel The Shell With Shoes On makes the cut. Matilda The Musical d eserves a casting nomination – those young actors are terrific.
Producer 1, female, Bafta voter
What did you think of the Bafta longlists? Were any of your favourites omitted from categories?
Best film was as expected – good to see Aftersun included although it won’t make the nominations in that category. Outstanding British film was very fair and quite rightly includes lower-budgeted films. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical – and I have seen the stage show it was based on.
It was refreshing to see the Indian Telugu-language epic RRR recognised in film not in the English language – although I watched, and I am sure many other voters did, the English version on Netflix. I was surprised Hit The Road did not make the cut. I watched this moving and entertaining Iranian film in 2021 and it has stayed with me.
It’s a shame Florence Pugh was omitted in best actress for The Wonder; she gave such a great performance. I would also have liked to have seen Emma Mackey recognised for Emily.
I haven’t been able to watch as much as I would have liked and I wish Bafta would have a longer deadline to watch the long-listed films after they are announced – a week is not long enough. I know I am saving TÁR and a few others for the big screen.
What films and talent are you now hoping will be nominated?
From what I’ve seen I hope Elvis, Triangle Of Sadness, Aftersun, Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical, Emily, Blue Jean, Corsage and Moonage Daydream will get nominations. I also hope Angela Bassett is recognised for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Michelle Yeoh for Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Executive, male, Bafta voter
What did you make of the longlists? Have any of your favourites been omitted from categories?
I was surprised that All Quiet On The Western Front featured so strongly, although I think the film is outstanding so it’s well deserved. I found it odd that Oliver Hermanus [Living] and Ruben Ostlund [Triangle Of Sadness] weren’t in the director longlist, jury process nothwithstanding.
Saint Omer not being in the best film not in English longlist is a shame as the film is incredible, especially given Bardo won a slot, and was an admirable miss.
What films and talent are you now hoping will be nominated?
I’d like to see Top Gun: Maverick represented well – I thought that was an outstanding film on every level and I feel there’s always a bias against commercial franchise films.
I’d also like to see a good showing for Blue Jean, which was a highly assured and compelling British debut, and All The Beauty And The Bloodshed, one of the most moving documentaries I’ve seen in a long time.
Producer 3, female, Bafta voter
What do you make of the longlists? Were any of your favourites omitted from categories?
I’m so used to grumbling about the wrong films being on longlists and my favourites missing out that I wasn’t quite sure what to do with myself when I read this year’s categories – they were pretty good (mostly)! I am particularly happy about the directors longlist, not just because it includes formidable relative newcomers like Charlotte Wells, Alice Diop and Sarah Polley but the Bafta voters were brave enough to resist the many big names who misfired or underdelivered this year.
My only real gripe is the documentary longlist, which is crowded with films by older white men about… yep, older white men (mostly). I think space could have been made for Descendant,Last Flight Home,Nothing Compares andThe Territory. We had a rich offering from a range of voices in documentary film this year and the longlist is too homogenous for my tastes.
Which films would you like to see nominated now?
I am behindAftersun for best film, A Bunch Of Amateurs for best documentary and Corsage for best film not in the English language. I’m less sure about outstanding British film and debut, but I’d be very happy to see Blue Jean get through to the next round.
If I were a betting gal, I’d put my eggs in Aftersun’ s basket. I won’t be surprised to see it nominated across the board.
Director, female, Bafta voter
What did you think of the Bafta longlists? Have any of your favourites been omitted from categories?
It would have been nice to see Nothing Compares on the documentary longlist and Good Luck To You, Leo Grande longlisted for best director – that was a very challenging piece pulled off exquisitely by Sophie Hyde.
What films and talent are you now hoping will be nominated?
I’m very impressed by the entire teams behind Aftersun, The Wonder,Women Talking and Triangle Of Sadness. These films had a real edge for me in terms of tone and the complexities of execution across all departments.
Exhibition analyst, male, Bafta voter
What do you make of the longlists? Have any of your favourites been omitted from categories?
I was disappointed not to see more of the non-English language or indie animation like Eternal Spring andApollo 10.5 in the animation category. I felt the incredibly creative My Old School should have been in documentary. And I’d have loved to see Kore-eda’s Broker in best film not in the English language, although I can’t argue with the inclusion of anything there.
In general I think more international films deserved to be in the best film category as well. Best film not in the English language looks like the most competitive category by far.
What films and talent are you now hoping will be nominated?
I’d like to see The Fabelmans, Elvis andLiving progress in best film. My leaning on director would be Baz Luhrmann. In acting terms, Brendan Fraser and Hong Chau would both get my vote for The Whale. In actress, I’m torn between Danielle Deadwyler and Michelle Williams [for The Fabelmans] so I hope all of these make their respective nomination groups.
Distribution executive, female, Bafta voter
What did you think of the Bafta longlists? Have any of your favourites been omitted from categories?
I am quite pleased by the Bafta longlists because there is a lot of emotion in the films and standout talent. They also offer up an interesting mix in terms of storytelling and project backgrounds. They all seem to have connected with audiences, which we can hope is a sign of things to come this year with people returning to the theatrical experience because they really want to.
I don’t think there are any clear omissions in outstanding British film – they’re all there for now! I was surprised that Wakanda Forever did not make it to best film, but great that Angela Bassett did for supporting actress.
What films and talent are you now hoping will be nominated?
It’s a shame that Spielberg is not shortlisted when TheFabelmans is. Seems like the two categories go hand-in-hand, particularly in this, very personal case. I am hoping that Tár is nominated across the board in its shortlisted categories and takes home some wins, especially Cate Blanchett. Such an incredible role and performance.
I think Elvis deserves some craft nods and it would be great to see Corsage make it to nomination and win for best costume. Special visual effects will likely be led by Avatar, but could also somehow split the vote and make room for Wakanda Forever or as a curveball All Is Quiet On The Western Front, which really looks amazing and is very haunting.
I love the beauty of the relationship through language inThe Banshees Of Inishiren, so hoping it will go far in original screenplay. For adapted screenplay, my bets are on Living. It’s the perfect renewal of an old classic and fully embodies Bafta.
Casting director, female, Bafta and Ampas voter
What did you think of the Bafta longlists? Were any of your favourites omitted from categories?
I am happy to see such a wide range of films in the longlists – from the hugely successful and enjoyable Top Gun: Maverick to smaller films like Living.
Which films would you particularly like to see nominated now?
I hope Triangle Of Sadness will be nominated for casting. The casting is exceptional; each performance is spot-on!
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