BAFTA Awards 2016: Will Oscar Best Picture Race Finally Be Decided?
The BAFTA awards will be given out in a race that, unlike years past, will have minimal bearing on the Academy Awards.
The two awards organizations tend to differ, but the BAFTAs still usually prove to be decent predictors of how the Academy will ultimately vote.
The category that will be under the closest scrutiny will undoubtedly be the best film category, where four of the five nominees are also Oscar contenders.
"Carol" did get a nod for the BAFTAs, but it is not among the eight nominated for best picture at the Oscars this year. While the film will surely have a shot at winning, garnering more nominations than any other film with nine -- tying with "The Revenant" -- it is most likely the dark horse in this race due to its standing with the Oscars.
"The Revenant" has picked up some steam after Alejandro González Iñárritu proved to be a winner at the Director's Guild of America awards. His film could ultimately come away with the top prize at the BAFTAs.
Of course, "Spotlight" and "The Big Short" remain heavy front-runners as well, and a victory here for either could end the debate on which film will strike Oscar gold in a few weeks' time.
Things get a bit more interesting in some of the actor categories. Sylvester Stallone is a lock to win Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars after his frequent accolades throughout the season, but he is not among those nominated at the BAFTAs. Instead, that category features Benicio del Toro, Christian Bale, Idris Elba, Mark Ruffalo and Mark Rylance. Del Toro and Elba were among those completely left out of the Oscar race.
The best supporting actress race is also one to look out for. Alicia Vikander is the Oscar winner-in-waiting for her role in "The Danish Girl." But that performance is not listed in this BAFTA category. Rather, she was placed in the Best Actress contest. Vikander is in the running for her work on "Ex-Machina" and could find herself winning for this role. Julie Walters, nominated for her role in "Brooklyn," is not an Oscar nominee.
With Vikander's "Danish Girl" performance in the best actress contest, the race at the BAFTAs becomes more intriguing. Brie Larson may take home the award for her turn in "Room" at the Oscars, but with Vikander facing her, this category gets a lot more interesting at the BAFTAs.
The only acting category without any suspense is the best actor category. Leonardo DiCaprio has been on a roll this year and is going to win the award without any doubt.
Click here for a full list of the nominees for the BAFTA awards.