"Carol", "Bridge of Spies" lead nominations for BAFTA awards

“Carol”, starring Cate Blanchett as a married woman who falls for a shop assistant (Rooney Mara) in 1950s New York has won critical acclaim since premiering at May’s Cannes Film Festival.

Its BAFTA nods include leading actress for Blanchett, supporting actress for Mara, best film, adapted screenplay, cinematography, costume design, make up and hair, production design as well as honours for director for Todd Haynes.

“Bridge of Spies”, which stars Tom Hanks as a lawyer negotiating the release of a U.S. pilot held captive by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, won a nomination for director Steven Spielberg as well as for best film.

Mark Rylance was nominated for supporting actor and the drama is also in the running for original screenplay, sound, cinematography, original music, editing and production design.

“The Revenant”, in which a bear attack sparks a quest for revenge, earned eight nominations, including best film, leading actor for Leonardo DiCaprio and best director for Alejandro G. Inarritu, last year’s Academy Award winner for “Birdman”.

“The Revenant” also garnered nominations for original music, cinematography, editing, sound as well as make up and hair.

Action adventure “Mad Max: Fury Road” earned seven nominations – cinematography, editing, sound, special visual effects, costume design, production design and make up and hair.

Irish immigrant story “Brooklyn” got six nominations, including outstanding British film, adapted screenplay and Saoirse Ronan up for leading actress.

Space adventure “The Martian” was also nominated six times, with Ridley Scott for director and Matt Damon as leading actor.

Financial misdeeds comedy “The Big Short” took five nominations including best film, adapted screenplay, editing, director for Adam McKay and supporting actor for Christian Bale.

Last year’s BAFTA leading actor winner Eddie Redmayne is in the running for his role in transgender movie “The Danish Girl”, which was nominated for outstanding British film. Co-star Alicia Vikander will compete in the leading actress category.

Vikander was also named in the supporting actress category for “Ex Machina”, also nominated for outstanding British film.

“Spotlight”, a film about the investigation into Catholic Church abuse, completed the nominations for best film, and earned nods for original screenplay and supporting actor for Mark Ruffalo.

Other nominees in the leading actor category included Bryan Cranston in “Trumbo” and Michael Fassbender in “Steve Jobs”.

The Apple co-founder biopic received nominations for Kate Winslet as supporting actress and for adapted screenplay.

Completing the leading actress nominations were Brie Larson for “Room” and Maggie Smith for “The Lady in the Van”.

Sci-fi blockbuster “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” will compete for original music, sound, production design and special visual effects. Other outstanding British film nominees include “45 years”, “Amy” and “The Lobster”.

Winners will be announced at the BAFTA awards ceremony in London on February 14, 2016.