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.