The shortlist for this year's BAFTA awards have been announced, with two films each receiving fourteen nominations. For the first time, this year's ceremony will be held in advance of the Academy Awards in a move designed to give the event more exposure. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon directed by Ang Lee, has been nominated for best film, best director and best actress for Michelle Yeoh; Gladiator is also up for best film, as well as the best actor award for Russell Crowe and a posthumous nomination for Oliver Reed for his supporting role in the Roman epic. Billy Elliot, Erin Brockovich and Almost Famous are also in the running for the best film award.
Crouching Tiger star Michelle Yeoh's competitors in the best actress category are Kate Hudson for Almost Famous, Juliette Binoche for Chocolat, Julia Roberts for Erin Brockovich and Hilary Swank for Boys Don't Cry. Swank took the best actress Oscar last year, but the film is only eligible for a BAFTA this year. Russell Crowe is up against Michael Douglas for Wonder Boys, Tom Hanks for Cast Away, Geoffrey Rush for Quills, and Jamie Bell for Billy Elliot in the best actor category.
The best director nominees are Ang Lee, Stephen Daldry for Billy Elliot, Ridley Scott for Gladiator, and Stephen Soderbergh for Erin Brockovich and Traffic. Crouching Tiger's other nominations include best adapted screenplay, supporting actress for Zhang Zi Yi and best foreign language film. It is also up for a costume award, along with Gladiator, which also has a best supporting actor nomination for Joaquin Phoenix.
This year's awards will be held on 25 February, marking the first time the BAFTAS have been held before the Oscars ceremony in Hollywood, rather than after it. Officials at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts moved the ceremony forward to give it more influence over the Academy Awards. This year's awards will be held at the Odeon, Leicester Square, London and will be hosted by actor and comedian Stephen Fry.
