Spanish trans thriller Emilia Pérez is leading this year’s BAFTA longlist with nominations in a whopping 15 categories.
Directed by Jacques Audiard, the film, which was picked up by Netflix during Cannes Film Festival, has emerged ahead of the race with slots in 15 categories, including best film, director, leading actress and three in the supporting actress list.
In December, Karla Sofia Gascón, star of the film, became the first openly trans woman to be nominated in a film lead actress category at the Golden Globes.
At the time, Gascon said: “At the end, I only represent myself,” Gascón said. “I have a lot of responsibility because a lot of people, maybe they need that representation from me. And I take this with my whole full heart to help the minority that I represent.”
“But I think it’s not only trans people” she continued. “There’s a lot of people in this world that need freedom. They need to live in a world in peace with the respect for each other, and I think that is the most important.”
The full list of nominations will be announced on January 15, minus the BAFTA Rising Star nominees, which will be unveiled January 7, with the BAFTA Film Awards ceremony taking place on February 16 at London’s Royal Festival Hall. Trans ally David Tennant will be returning as host.
Other LGBTQ+ films that have received BAFTA nods are sapphic bodybuilding romance thriller Love Lies Bleeding (Outstanding British Film), trans road trip documentary Will & Harper, and Daniel Craig has received a Best Leading Actor nod for his role in Luca Guadagnino’s Queer.
