Bridge of Spies and Carol lead BAFTA nominations

Cold War drama Bridge Of Spies and Carol look set for a big night at the 2016 British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Film Awards after scooping nine nominations each.

Tom Hanks' drama, which has been largely snubbed in awards nominations so far, was a surprise frontrunner when the BAFTA shortlist was read out by awards host Stephen Fry and actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw in London on Friday morning (08Jan16).

Bridge of Spies has been nominated for Best Film, Best Supporting Actor for Mark Rylance, Best Director for Steven Spielberg, Best Original Screenplay for Matt Charman and Joel and Ethan Coen, plus a number of technical categories.

Carol landed nods for Best Film, Leading Actress for Cate Blanchett, Supporting Actress for Rooney Mara, Best Director for Todd Haynes and Best Adapted Screenplay for Phyllis Nagy, among others.

Other Best Film nominees include The Revenant, which follows closely behind with eight nods, The Big Short and Spotlight, while 45 Years, Amy, Brooklyn, The Danish Girl, Ex Machina and The Lobster are up for the Outstanding British Film prize.

Eddie Redmayne will have to compete against Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant), Bryan Cranston (Trumbo), Matt Damon (The Martian) and Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs) to earn the Best Actor BAFTA for The Danish Girl.

Blanchett is up against Brie Larson (Room), Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn), Maggie Smith (The Lady in the Van) and Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl) in the Leading Actress category.

Winners will be announced at London's Royal Opera House on 14 February (16).

The main nominees are as follows:

Best Film:

Carol

The Revenant

Spotlight

The Big Short

Bridge of Spies

Best Leading Actor:

Bryan Cranston - Trumbo

Matt Damon - The Martian

Leonardo DiCaprio - The Revenant

Michael Fassbender - Steve Jobs

Eddie Redmayne - The Danish Girl

Best Leading Actress:

Cate Blanchett - Carol

Brie Larson - Room

Saoirse Ronan - Brooklyn

Maggie Smith - The Lady in the Van

Alicia Vikander - The Danish Girl

Best Supporting Actor:

Christian Bale - The Big Short

Benicio del Toro - Sicario

Idris Elba - Beasts of No Nation

Mark Ruffalo - Spotlight

Mark Rylance - Bridge of Spies

Best Supporting Actress:

Jennifer Jason Leigh - The Hateful Eight

Alicia Vikander - Ex Machina

Kate Winslet - Steve Jobs

Julie Walters - Brooklyn

Rooney Mara - Carol

EE Rising Star Award:

John Boyega

Taron Egerton

Dakota Johnson

Brie Larson

Bel Powley

Outstanding British Film:

45 Years

Amy

Brooklyn

The Danish Girl

Ex Machina

The Lobster

Best Director:

Alejandro G. Inarritu - The Revenant

Todd Haynes - Carol

Ridley Scott - The Martian

Adam McKay - The Big Short

Steven Spielberg - Bridge of Spies

Best Original Screenplay:

Matt Charman, Joel Coen and Ethan Coen - Bridge of Spies

Alex Garland - Ex Machina

Quentin Tarantino - The Hateful Eight

Josh Cooley, Pete Docter and Meg LeFauve - Inside Out

Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer - Spotlight

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Charles Randolph and Adam Mckay - The Big Short

Nick Hornby - Brooklyn

Phyllis Nagy - Carol

Emma Donoghue - Room

Aaron Sorkin - Steve Jobs.