Director James Cameron's 3D blockbuster fantasy film Avatar tied with British drama An Education and Iraq war movie The Hurt Locker with eight nominations each at Britain's Bafta film awards.
That trio was closely followed by extra-terrestrial film District 9 with seven nominations. Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, starring Brad Pitt, and Up in the Air with George Clooney each received six nominations, organisers said today. The awards are handed out on February 21st.
The battle for the leading actor award will be fought between Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart), Clooney (Up In The Air), Colin Firth (A Single Man), Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker), and Andy Serkis (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll)
In the leading actress category, those nominated are Carey Mulligan (An Education), Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones), Gabourey Sidibe (Precious), Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia). and Audrey Tautou (Coco Before Chanel).
Other nominations see Christoph Waltz appearing in the Supporting Actor section for Inglourious Basterds for his role as a gleefully bloodthirsty Nazi.
He faces competition from Alec Baldwin for It's Complicated, Christian McKay for Me And Orson Welles, Alfred Molina for An Education and Stanley Tucci for The Lovely Bones.
The Supporting Actress category sees co-stars battling it out with each other. Former Shameless actress Anne-Marie Duff and Kristin Scott Thomas are both up for their roles in Nowhere Boy.
Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick are also in the running, both for Up In The Air, while Golden Globe winner Mo'Nique rounds off the list for the hard-hitting tale Precious.
The Animated Film section is a three-way fight between Coraline, Fantastic Mr Fox and Up.
The Hangover, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, A Serious Man and Up are all vying for Original Screenplay.
The Bafta nominations come as the awards season gets into full swing, although they are an unreliable guide to glory for the movie world's biggest prize, the Academy Awards.
The Golden Globes were awarded on January 17th, Oscar nominations are announced on February 2nd ahead of the March 7th ceremony and the Bafta winners are revealed on February 21st. Box office hits Avatar and The Hangover were among the big winners at the Globes.
Agencies