Colin Farrell may take home its first BAFTA at Sunday’s ceremony, where Netflix’s anti-war epic All Quiet on the Western Front leads the pack with 14 nominations.
Irish The actor, who has appeared in both Hollywood blockbusters and independent films in a varied career spanning 25 years, has been nominated for the Best Actor in a Leading Role category for the first time.
He is in the running for his role in the black comedy-drama The Banshees of Inishrin, but faces stiff opposition from a number of big names.
These include for Austin Butler ElvisBrendan Fraser for The Whale, Paul Mescal for Aftersun, Bill Nighy for Living and Good Luck to You, Daryl McCormack for Leo Grande.
All Quiet on the Western Front, directed by German filmmaker Eduard Berger and based on the 1929 novel of the same name by Erich Maria Remarque, is nominated for top gongs including Best Film, Best Director and Best Film in the English Language.
Its string of nominations means that it is not an English-language film as the most nominated film in BAFTA history, 2000’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Behind are Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inishrin and Daniel Cowan and Daniel Scheinert’s Everywhere Everywhere All at Once with 10 nominations each.
Both films also received nods for Best Picture, with Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis and Todd Field’s Tar rounding out the five-strong list.
The Banshees of Inishrin and the cast of Irish Talent are being touted as potential big winners of the night.
The film, set on a remote island off the coast of Ireland, finds Farrell’s character devastated when his friend, played by Brendan Gleeson, ends their lifelong friendship.
Its other nominations included Outstanding British Film, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Irish stars Gleeson and Barry Keoghan, as well as Best Supporting Actress for Irish actress Kerry Condon.
The leading actress award will also be fiercely contested as nominations include Cate Blanchett for Tar, Viola Davis for The Woman King, Michelle Yeoh for Everything Everywhere All at Once, Dame Emma Thompson for Good Luck To You, Leo Grande, for Ana de Armas. Blonde and Danielle Deadweiler for Till.
This year the event is relocating to the Royal Festival Hall from its previous location of the Royal Albert Hall, which had hosted the award show since 2017.
Prince And the Princess of Wales will also attend for the first time in three years.
William, who has been president of BAFTA since 2010, and Kate will watch the ceremony before meeting the winners and rising star award nominees.
Dame Helen Mirren will also pay a special tribute to the late Queen.
The Queen, who was portrayed by Dame Helen both on the big screen and on stage, had a close relationship with the Academy, which spanned 50 years and saw charity and support initiatives, as well as numerous events ran away.
Richard E Grant The BAFTA studios will host the main event, while TV presenter Alison Hammond will provide a comprehensive, all-access experience from the BAFTA studios as part of the BBC One coverage.
American actress, dancer and singer Ariana DeBose will open the night with a contemporary music performance inspired by this year’s nominees.
BAFTA and Oscar winner Sandy Powell will be awarded a BAFTA Fellowship, becoming the first costume designer to receive the body’s highest honour.
There will also be a performance from Mercury Prize winning rapper and singer Little Simz.
The BAFTA Film Awards will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer on 19 February at 7pm.