Several BAFTA winners have turned the Oscar conversation in new directions or confirmed prevailing sentiments. With its current pre-Oscar position, it’s become an even more important bellwether. What happens here could send ripples through the blogosphere.

BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF FILM & TELEVISION ARTS AWARDS

Best Film

Birdman (RU:Wesley, RU:Peter, RU:Tripp)
Boyhood (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
The Grand Budapest Hotel (RU:Thomas)
The Imitation Game
The Theory of Everything

Wesley Lovell: This is the make-or-brak time for Boyhood. It had been cruising through the precursors until the PGA decided Birdman was a better choice. Everyone has since been second-guessing themselves, many predicting splits. What wins at BAFTA will definitely influence our thinking, but my guess is they stay with the status quo.
Peter J. Patrick: BAFTA voters generally think the same as their Hollywood counterparts. There’s no reason to think that the British films The Imitation Games and The Theory of Everything will do better here than the big three Hollywood favorites, with Boyhood besting Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel by a handful of votes.
Tripp Burton: This is an interesting category. Will BAFTA go with the all-around front runner, or will something more European like Grand Budapest Hotel or Birdman be more popular here? Or will either of the British films win? Nothing will really surprise me, but I’m guessing that a boost will go Boyhood’s way.
Thomas LaTourette: It seems that Boyhood should continue on its winning ways and take home the big prize here too. It’s stiffest competition, like at the Oscars, should be Birdman.

Best Animated Film

Big Hero 6 (RU:Wesley, RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
The Boxtrolls (RU:Peter)
The Lego Movie (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)

Wesley Lovell: BAFTA went with three nominees leaving out the film most think is heading towards an Oscar win. If The Lego Movie wins, there will be no change in perceptions. If Big Hero 6 wins, then all bets are off and we’ll have a real Oscar nail-biter.
Peter J. Patrick: I expect popularity to prevail on this one.
Tripp Burton: With no How to Train Your Dragon 2, this is an interesting category. I’m assuming that The LEGO Movie will take something this awards season, and this might be its last chance.
Thomas LaTourette: The Lego Movie should win, especially without competition from How To Train Your Dragon 2. If it should falter, then Disney’s Big Hero 6 could win.

Best Director

Wes Anderson – The Grand Budapest Hotel (RU:Thomas)
Damien Chazelle – Whiplash
Alejandro G. Inarritu – Birdman (RU:Wesley, RU:Peter, RU:Tripp)
Richard Linklater – Boyhood (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
James Marsh – The Theory of Everything

Wesley Lovell: Prevailing wisdom is that no one but Richard Linklater will win Best Director this year, regardless of how Best Picture goes. If that narrative changes, it likely changes here (or at the DGA).
Peter J. Patrick: This is becoming monotonous, so much so that any other winner would be a shock.
Tripp Burton: Linklater seems to be the poster boy of the season, with a lot of recognition for his very long-term commitment to Boyhood.
Thomas LaTourette: Linklater will add another award to his collection, though Inarritu will give him some serious competition.

Best Actor

Benedict Cumberbatch – The Imitation Game (RU:Peter)
Ralph Fiennes – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Jake Gyllenhaal – Nightcrawler
Michael Keaton – Birdman (Peter, RU:Wesley, RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Eddie Redmayne – The Theory of Everything (Wesley, Tripp, Thomas)

Wesley Lovell: This is where we find out if home court advantage will mean anything. Eddie Redmayne should be the front-runner based on all we know. If anyone else wins, it’s possible things may shift to Michael Keaton for the Oscar, especially if he wins. If neither Keaton or Redmayne win, then Cumberbatch is the heir, but it won’t have any effect on the Oscar race…most likely.
Peter J. Patrick: This is a category in which the home boys (Cumberbatch, Redmayne, Fiennes) have an advantage, but not a strong one. I expect Hollywood comeback kid Keaton to take it, with Cumberbatch or Redmayne a strong possibility. I would think Cumberbatch has a better chance here than Redmayne, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Redmayne take yet another award this year.
Tripp Burton: The British Eddie Redmayne is on a roll, and on his home turf he shouldn’t have much competition from Michael Keaton. One of the other British actors in this group could be a threat if they hadn’t disappeared from awards season so strongly.
Thomas LaTourette: Keaton may be a slight frontrunner for the Oscar, but Brit Eddie Redmayne will likely prevail over him for his performance as Stephen Hawking.

Best Actress

Amy Adams – Big Eyes
Felicity Jones – The Theory of Everything (RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Julianne Moore – Still Alice (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
Rosamund Pike – Gone Girl (RU:Wesley)
Reese Witherspoon – Wild (RU:Peter)

Wesley Lovell: There’s little chance that Julianne Moore loses this, but if she does, there will be a lot of bits written on it.
Peter J. Patrick: Forget the British nominees here. This is Moore’s to lose, with Witherspoon a very distant second place finisher.
Tripp Burton: Julianne Moore is on such a hot streak that nothing will slow her down. At this point it is just that no one has any momentum to stop her. I almost didn’t pick an alternate!
Thomas LaTourette: Julianne Moore will likely win yet another award. Unlike at the Oscars, her strongest competition should come from Brit Felicity Jones.

Best Supporting Actor

Steve Carell – Foxcatcher
Ethan Hawke – Boyhood
Edward Norton – Birdman (RU:Wesley, RU:Peter, RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Mark Ruffalo – Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons – Whiplash (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)

Wesley Lovell: J.K. Simmons should prevail. Shocks rarely happen with this kind of trajectory.
Peter J. Patrick: Simmons should win this in a walk with either Norton or Carell a long-shot possible upset winner
Tripp Burton: J.K. Simmons for the win. Again. No one else is even in the conversation at this point.
Thomas LaTourette: Simmons will win yet again. If they decide to try for a younger winner, then Norton could win, but that is doubtful.

Best Supporting Actress

Patricia Arquette – Boyhood (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
Keira Knightley – The Imitation Game (RU:Wesley, RU:Peter, RU:Thomas)
Rene Russo – Nightcrawler
Imelda Staunton – Pride (RU:Tripp)
Emma Stone – Birdman

Wesley Lovell: This is where we find out if Patricia Arquette is vulnerable or not. BAFTA isn’t where Amy Ryan showed just how vulnerable she was after her tremendous precursor sweep, but it is where we found out who was giong to prevail. Ryan had already started losing at the Globes and SAG before this win. However, if there is to be a break and a possible Oscar shift, start here.
Peter J. Patrick: The Brits love tradition. Arquette’s latest arc that she is a fourth generation actor should win her a few extra votes here, but she would win anyway for her everywoman single mother. Knightly and the always dependable Imelda Stanuton are likely her closest also-rans.
Tripp Burton: If Patricia Arquette loses an award, this will be it. Can Keira Knightley pick up a little bit of steam from her home country? It has happened in this category before…
Thomas LaTourette: Arquette will continue her winning ways and take home this trophy. I think her major competition would be British actress Imelda Staunton from the indie film Pride.

Best Original Screenplay

Birdman (Tripp, RU:Wesley, RU:Peter, RU:Thomas)
Boyhood (RU:Tripp)
The Grand Budapest Hotel (Wesley, Peter, Thomas)
Nightcrawler
Whiplash

Wesley Lovell: It comes down to Birdman and Grand Budapest. If Boyhood wins, then the Oscar for Best Picture is virtually guaranteed. Grand Budapest has the most narratively complex screenplay, but Birdman and Boyhood may be more philosophically relevant.
Peter J. Patrick: The inventiveness of Grand Budapest Hotel should prove the winner here with Birdman chomping at its heels.
Tripp Burton: The Grand Budapest Hotel seems like a film tailor made for the British Academy, and this is its best bet at a major award. I don’t expect it to lose.
Thomas LaTourette: The unique Birdman should win this easily. Boyhood was an interesting concept, but I don’t think it will prove strong enough to win

Best Adapted Screenplay

American Sniper
Gone Girl (RU:Wesley)
The Imitation Game (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
Paddington
The Theory of Everything (RU:Peter, RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)

Wesley Lovell: The Imitation Game is the current Oscar front-runner, but Gone Girl could come roaring back after recent losses. If anything other than those two win, a shift at the Oscars may be coming.
Peter J. Patrick: The Imitation Game is so far out in front on this one that nothing else really seems poised to take it down.
Tripp Burton: With it’s USC Scripter prize last weekend, The Imitation Game is quickly becoming the most highly cited script of this group. I’m not convinced it will win an Oscar, but it seems pretty certain to pick this prize up too.
Thomas LaTourette: The Imitation Game is the Oscar frontrunner and should go on to win here. Another British film in the mix, The Theory of Everything should provide more competition than either of the American films, American Sniper and Gone Girl.

Best Original Music

Birdman (Thomas, RU:Peter, RU:Tripp)
The Grand Budapest Hotel (Wesley, Peter, RU:Thomas)
Interstellar
The Theory of Everything (Tripp, RU:Wesley)
Under the Skin

Wesley Lovell: Alexandre Desplat is not a double nominee here, so he can’t cancel himself out. Theory of Everything won the Globe and Birdman was the dominant one from the precursors. Ultimately, Grand Budapest seems like the right combination of overdue composer/eclectic composition/traditional work that could prevail here.
Peter J. Patrick: This one’s a tough call. It may come down to which film they actually liked more.
Tripp Burton: The Oscars disqualified Birdman, but with all the hype around the score the BAFTA voters might still give it their prize. If not, look for the red hot Alexandre Desplat to win another award on his way to the Oscar. The dark horse, cult favorite Under the Skin might creep in, but just getting a nomination might be reward enough.
Thomas LaTourette: I think the Theory of Everything should win, like it did at the Golden Globes. The drum oriented score of Birdman could sneak in for a win, though the jaunty score of The Grand Budapest Hotel will also provide some competition.

Best Editing

Birdman (Peter, RU:Tripp)
The Grand Budapest Hotel (Thomas, RU:Wesley, RU:Peter)
The Imitation Game (Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Nightcrawler
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash (Wesley)

Wesley Lovell: This category looks so different from the Oscars that it’s almost impossible to know what will win. Ultimately, I think Whiplash’s flashier editing will triumph over the others.
Peter J. Patrick: I think Birdman has this one in the bag for its seamless look. Any of the other winner would come as a surprise.
Tripp Burton: This is the point where I expect nomination leader The Grand Budapest Hotel to start running the table with some tech awards. Unless the British Imitation Game is more popular? This group can be hard to read.
Thomas LaTourette: The editing work of The Imitation Game is not that exciting, but I could see them giving it the BAFTA as it was done locally. Birdman could pull off an upset win, like it did at the ACE.

Best Cinematography

Birdman (Tripp, RU:Wesley, RU:Peter, RU:Thomas)
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Ida (Wesley)
Interstellar
Mr. Turner (Peter, Thomas, RU:Tripp)

Wesley Lovell: Here we may have a better idea of what triumphs at the Oscars, unless it’s Ida. Ida may seem like an out-of-the-ordinary Oscar pick, but the BAFTA’s wouldn’t. However, I’m perfectly willing to admit being likely to be wrong, especially with Mr. Turner and Grand Budapest in competition along with Birdman.
Peter J. Patrick: This is one category the home boys could win, but it will be a tight race.
Tripp Burton: This category is so strong that I could make a case for anything winning. In the mean time, I’ll lean towards the British Dick Pope to take home the prize.
Thomas LaTourette: The striking long shots of Birdman should easily win. Its closest competition would be the painterly work of Mr. Turner.

Best Production Design

Big Eyes
The Grand Budapest Hotel (Wesley, Tripp, RU:Peter, RU:Thomas)
The Imitation Game (RU:Tripp)
Interstellar
Mr. Turner (Peter, Thomas, RU:Wesley)

Wesley Lovell: The Grand Budapest Hotel has been on an impressive no-loss streak. Will it end hear with home court advantage for Imitation Game or Mr. Turner or will dominant wisdom prevail and the brilliant design of Budapest take the award?
Peter J. Patrick: This one’s a total guess without rhyme or reason.
Tripp Burton: (No comment due to time constraints)
Thomas LaTourette: The Grand Budapest Hotel has been on a roll, and will probably win here as well. The worlds created in Interstellar will give it competition, but probably not enough to win.

Best Costume Design

The Grand Budapest Hotel (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
The Imitation Game (RU:Peter)
Into the Woods
Mr. Turner (RU:Wesley, RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
The Theory of Everything

Wesley Lovell: Strangely this seems to be a category Grand Budapest is more likely to win, if only because it’s got some very colorful duds. If this were the 1980’s or 1990’s, Mr. Turner or Into the Woods would win hands-down for simply being period darma attire.
Peter J. Patrick: I expect the period costumes of either Grand Budapest Hotel or Imitation Game to prevail here. It should be a close one between the two.
Tripp Burton: (No comment due to time constraints)
Thomas LaTourette: The stylized work of Grand Budapest Hotel will probably beat out the older period costumes of Mr. Turner.

Best Makeup & Hair

The Grand Budapest Hotel (Tripp, Thomas, RU:Wesley)
Guardians of the Galaxy (Wesley, RU:Thomas)
Into the Woods (Peter)
Mr. Turner (RU:Peter)
The Theory of Everything (RU:Tripp)

Wesley Lovell: Guardians of the Galaxy seems like a good bet, but anything can happen with non-Oscar nominees Into the Woods, Mr. Turner and The Theory of Everything in the mix.
Peter J. Patrick: Into the Woods hasn’t done well in any of the precursors thus far. Maybe, just maybe, it’s time for a change.
Tripp Burton: (No comment due to time constraints)
Thomas LaTourette: The two Oscar nominees will be duking it out here as well. I’m thinking the larger amount of work done for Budapest Hotel will win over the work done for Theory of Everything.

Best Sound

American Sniper (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
Birdman (RU:Tripp)
The Grand Budapest Hotel (RU:Thomas)
The Imitation Game
Whiplash (RU:Wesley, RU:Peter)

Wesley Lovell: Oscar should follow suit and we may see how voters really feel with this category.
Peter J. Patrick: You never know with the sound categories, but it isn’t smart to bet against either a war movie or a musical.
Tripp Burton: (No comment due to time constraints)
Thomas LaTourette: The war work of American Sniper will probably win over the quieter work of Birdaman, though conceivably any could win.

Best Special Visual Effects

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Thomas, RU:Wesley, RU:Peter, RU:Tripp)
Guardians of the Galaxy (Peter)
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Interstellar (Wesley, Tripp, RU:Thomas)
X-Men: Days of Future Past

Wesley Lovell: Can we finally get a grip on whether Interstellar is still in this or if its faded so much it cannot win? Hopefully, this will confirm the new direction the Visual Effects Society is suggesting or will take us back to our original thoughts.
Peter J. Patrick: The Apes sequel had the most realistic effects, but Galaxy was the more popular film so either is possible.
Tripp Burton: (No comment due to time constraints)
Thomas LaTourette: Oscar frontrunner Interstellar will win, though Dawn of the Planet of the Apes should give it some competition.

Best Foreign Language Film

Ida (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
Leviathan (RU:Wesley, RU:Peter)
The Lunchbox
Two Days, One Night (RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Trash

Wesley Lovell: No Force Majeure here (which should have been a clue that it wasn’t going to be Oscar nominated). Only two Oscar nominees are on the list and I think it’s between the two for the win. If Leviathan can pull off a win here, Oscar may not be far behind.
Peter J. Patrick: This is another category in which the similarly thinking British Academy will mirror the likely Oscar winner.
Tripp Burton: (No comment due to time constraints)
Thomas LaTourette: The Polish film Ida will probably win here. Leviathan will give it some competition, but Two Days, One Night is probably the more likely to pull the upset.

Best Documentary

20 Feet from Stardom (RU:Tripp)
20,000 Days on Earth (Thomas)
Citizenfour (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Finding Vivian Maier (RU:Wesley)
Virunga (RU:Peter)

Wesley Lovell: Three Oscar nominees in the block and Citizenfour seems like the logical prediction.
Peter J. Patrick: Topicality should win this one with the Snowden documentary having a slight edge over Leonardo Di Caprio’s gorilla preservation film.
Tripp Burton: (No comment due to time constraints)
Thomas LaTourette: This is an interesting race between last year’s winner and this year’s presumptive winner. I am guessing they will go topical and go with Citizenfour.

Best Short Animation

The Bigger Picture (Wesley, Tripp, Thomas)
Monkey Love Experiments (RU:Wesley)
My Dad (RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)

Wesley Lovell: Not really sure, so I went with the only Oscar nominee of the bunch.
Peter J. Patrick: (No comment / predictions due to lack of familiarity)
Tripp Burton: (No comment due to time constraints)
Thomas LaTourette: I’m guessing the Oscar nominated The Bigger Picture might win, though any of them could win. I randomly chose My Dad as a runner-up.

Best Short Film

Boogaloo and Graham (Wesley, Tripp, Thomas)
Emotional Fusebox (RU:Wesley, RU:Tripp)
The Kármán Line
Slap (RU:Thomas)
Three Brothers

Wesley Lovell: Another prediction goes to the lone Oscar nominee.
Peter J. Patrick: (No comment / predictions due to lack of familiarity)
Tripp Burton: (No comment due to time constraints)
Thomas LaTourette: Once again I am choosing the Oscar nominated film to win, over a set of pictures that I know nothing about.

Best British Film

’71 (RU:Tripp)
The Imitation Game (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
Paddington
Pride (RU:Wesley)
The Theory of Everything (RU:Peter, RU:Thomas)
Under the Skin

Wesley Lovell: There are two Oscar Best Picture nominees on this list. Both of them are also up for Best Picture at BAFTA. That suggests the race may come down to a fight between the two. I think The Imitation Game has this one sewn up simply because it’s nomination count pretty much suggests it’s a more solid contender.
Peter J. Patrick: Here’s where one of the two British films nominated for Best Film overall will prevail over the other nominees with the more ambitious Imitation Gam having a slight edge over Theory of Everything.
Tripp Burton: Two of these have Best Film nominations, so I’m guessing that it will go one of those ways.
Thomas LaTourette: I think the more popular The imitation Game will win over the independent ’71.

Best Rising Star

Gugu Mbatha-Raw (RU:Tripp)
Jack O’Connell (Peter, Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Margot Robbie
Miles Teller (RU:Wesley)
Shailene Woodley (Wesley, Thomas, RU:Peter)

Wesley Lovell: Always remember that the Rising Star award is voted on by the public. If BAFTA were voting, it would be between Jack O’Connell and Miles Teller. However, they don’t have the final say, which means Shailene Woodley, with two hugely popular kid-friendly films this year will likely pull the lion’s share of votes with Miles Teller who has a growing familiarity taking up the runner-up position. Most likely.
Peter J. Patrick: I’d be surprised if O’Connell loses this one.
Tripp Burton: (No comment due to time constraints)
Thomas LaTourette: There is quite a mix of talent, both British and American, in this list, though I wonder if the Brits will have a bit of a leg up here. O’Connell had a stunning year with both starring roles in ’71 and Unbroken and that should propel him on to win. I think Shailene Woodley is too established to win, but Mbatha-Raw also had strong performances in Belle and Beyond the Lights.

Best Debut of a British Writer, Director or Producer

Stephen Beresford, David Livingstone – Pride (Wesley, Peter, RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Gregory Burke, Yann Demange – ’71 (Tripp, Thomas, RU:Wesley, RU:Peter)
Elaine Contantine – Northern Soul
Paul Katis, Andrew De Lotbiniere – Kakaji: The True Story
Hong Khaou – Lilting

Wesley Lovell: I think this comes down to either Pride or ’71. Both are nominated for Best British Film. I’m leaning towards the more genteel and entertaining Pride over the behind-enemy-lines drama.
Peter J. Patrick: The writing and producing team of Pride should take this one in a walk.
Tripp Burton: (No comment due to time constraints)
Thomas LaTourette: While Pride was the more commercially successful film, the seious ’71 should go on to win.