BAFTA Awards: 'Oppenheimer' is the big favourite, 'Anatomy of a Fall' awaits

Christopher Nolan's biopic of the father of the atomic bomb, Oppenheimer, looks set to be a firm favorite at the BAFTAs today.
French comedy "Anatomy of a Fall" may also continue its rise ahead of the Oscars. There seems to be no stopping the Palme d'Or winner, who has been hailed in cinemas and is racking up international accolades, raising hopes of a French success in Los Angeles in March.
Previously, Anatomy of a Fall, which tells the story of the trial of a writer accused of murdering her husband, received seven nominations from the British Academy and has nominations for best film, best director for Justine Trier and best good actress for German Sandra Hüler.
As with the other international awards, "Oppenheimer," which earned almost a billion dollars, remains the favorite for Sunday's gala night and could bring Christopher Nolan his first BAFTA award for best director.
Two other British directors will compete against him for the award - Jonathan Glazer ("Zone of Interest") and Andrew Haig ("Unknown"), along with Bradley Cooper ("The Maestro"), Alexander Payne ("The Holdovers" ) and Justine Trier, the only woman in the race.
The portrait of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the tortured physicist and scientific director of the Manhattan Project during World War II, leads the list with 13 nominations, including best actor for Irish actor Cillian Murphy.
Behind him is Despicable Me, the dark and funny comedy inspired by Frankenstein and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, which is nominated in 11 categories, including best actress for Emma Stone.
The American star is expected to walk the red carpet at the Royal Festival Hall alongside Hollywood stars Margot Robbie, Carey Mulligan and Bradley Cooper, ahead of the opening ceremony, hosted by Scotland's 'Doctor Who' David Tennant.
Diversity
Event regular Prince William, who has only spoken publicly once since announcing his father, King Charles III, had cancer, is also expected in London on Sunday night and will meet several of the winners in his capacity of the Chairman of the BAFTA Awards. His wife, Kate, is still recovering from abdominal surgery in January.
Among the other contenders, Martin Scorsese's historical fresco "Killers of the Flower Moon" received nine nominations, as well as "Zone of Interest" - a chilling film about the daily life of the family of the commandant of the Nazi extermination camp in Auschwitz and winner of the Grand Prize in Cannes.
Sandra Huhler, who plays his sadistic wife, is also nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category for this film.
"Barbie," the summer's other commercial success, directed by Greta Gerwig, is up for just five awards, including best actress for Margot Robbie.
"This year's selection is very exciting and I think the key word is diversity," BAFTA president Sarah Putt said in January, hoping that this wide range of films and genres would "encourage people to go to the cinema".
Fewer British actors have been awarded in London over the years: in the male category, there is no British representative for Best Actor or Best Supporting Actor, the first time since 1976. /BGNES, AFP