Hawking biopic, Birdman, Budapest Hotel lead Bafta nominations

Stephen Hawking biopic “The Theory of Everything” has been shortlisted in the four main categories at this year's Bafta awards, including best film. Eddie Redmayne, who plays Professor Hawking, and Felicity Jones, as his first wife Jane Wilde – are up for best actor and best actress.

Once technical categories are counted, however, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” has the most nominations. The Wes Anderson farce has 11 citations, including best actor for Ralph Fiennes.

Superhero drama “Birdman” and “Theory of Everything” follow, with 10 apiece, followed by Alan Turing biopic “The Imitation Game”, on nine.

Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne (“Theory of Everything”)

Benedict Cumberbatch received a best actor nod for his portrayal of Turing, while the film also gained Keira Knightley a nomination for best supporting actress.

“Paddington” received two nominations, for best adapted screenplay and outstanding British film. But Mike Leigh's critically-lauded “Mr Turner” was frozen out of the main categories.

Benedict Cumberbatch from “Imitation Game” (right) are all in the running for Baftas.

Other notable absentees include Angelina Jolie's wartime drama “Unbroken” and Martin Luther King drama “Selma”.

The other film in running for Best Film is “Boyhood”.  The race for Best actor has Ralph Fiennes (“Grand Budapest Hotel”), Jake Gyllenhaal (“Nightcrawler”) and Michael Keaton (“Birdman”). Amy Adams (“Big Eyes”) will compete against Felicity Jones, alongside Julianne Moore (“Still Alice”), Rosamund Pike (“Gone Girl”) and Reese Witherspoon (“Wild”) for Best Actress.

Previously, on Wednesday, Bafta announced the five actors nominated for this year's Rising Star award. British stars Jack O'Connell - recently seen in “Unbroken” - and Belle actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw made the shortlist. They will compete against “Whiplash” star Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley from “The Fault in Our Stars” and Margot Robbie (“The Wolf of Wall Street”).

All the winners will be announced at the Bafta Film Awards ceremony hosted by Stephen Fry on February 8.

Source: BBC