'The Shape of Water' leads nominations for Britain's BAFTA awards

APD NEWS

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Guillermo del Toro’s fantasy “The Shape of Water” leads the field for next month’s British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards after securing 12 nominations on Tuesday.

Steeped in Cold War secrecy, the tale of a cleaner at a US government lab – and the Russians who are after her discovery – is in the running for awards including best film and special visual effects.

Guillermo del Toro is also nominated as best director for the film, which picked up two gongs at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday.

Director Guillermo del Toro poses with the trophy for Best Director - Motion Picture during the 75th Golden Globe Awards on January 7, 2018.

World War II drama “The Darkest Hour” and comedy-drama “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” each got nine nominations. “Blade Runner 2049” and “Dunkirk” both received eight.

Sally Hawkins in “The Shape of Water” star and Frances McDormand in “Three Billboards” got Leading Actress nominations. Daniel Day-Lewis and Gary Oldman were among the nominations for Leading Actor.

“I am incredibly humbled by such a nomination. It is very special to be honored by BAFTA. It feels like a gift from my homeland and I am very touched by it,” Hawkins, who is British, said in a statement.

Bafta Chief Executive Amanda Berry, from left, actresses, Natalie Dormer, Joanna Lumley, Letitia Wright and Bafta Chair Jane Lush pose for photographers during a photo call for the BAFTA Academy Film Awards Nominations in London, Jan 9, 2018.

Christopher Plummer received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his portrayal of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty in Ridley Scott’s “All The Money In The World.” Plummer took the role on four days notice after Scott decided to cut a completed performance by Kevin Spacey following allegations of sexual misconduct against the actor.

“The Death of Stalin,” was nominated for Outstanding British Film, on a list that included “Lady Macbeth,” “God’s Own Country,” and “Three Billboards,” which was directed by Briton Martin McDonagh.

Both “Three Billboards” and “The Shape of Water” have awards momentum behind them, each having won in major categories at the Golden Globes in Los Angeles on Sunday.

The BAFTAs differ from their US counterpart in having a separate category for best British film. Nominees are “Three Billboards,” ″Darkest Hour,” chilling comedy “The Death of Stalin,” gay rural romance “God’s Own Country,” period drama “Lady Macbeth” and ursine adventure “Paddington 2.”

A symbol of the BAFTA awards.

Winners will be announced at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Feb. 18, two weeks before the Oscars.

The ceremony will be hosted by “Absolutely Fabulous” star Joanna Lumley, who is taking over from longtime master of ceremonies Stephen Fry.

The evening is likely to echo the political tone of the Golden Globes, where many attendees wore black as a statement against sexual misconduct and Oprah Winfrey made a rousing speech calling for change.

(AP, AFP, REUTERS)