The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) has announced the longlist for its newly introduced award category dedicated to children's and family films. This longlist features 19 films that are eligible for this distinctive accolade, aimed at recognizing cinematic works that Bafta describes as having "specific inter-generational appeal to children, young people and adults." Notably absent from this list is the latest installment in the Paddington series, despite its success at the UK box office.
The new category marks Bafta's first addition in five years, with eligibility extended to films rated U, PG, or 12A. The selection process involved a "thorough" assessment, where jury members independently and confidentially evaluated each eligible film. Bafta intends for the award to "celebrate the very best films appealing to inter-generational audiences."
While the Paddington movie was omitted, other prominent films also missed out on a nomination. Both Despicable Me 4 and Kung Fu Panda 4 were overlooked in this category. However, several notable titles made the cut, including Richard Curtis's festive film That Christmas, Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, and Pharrell Williams' Lego biopic Piece By Piece. The list also features The Wild Robot and Netflix's animated fantasy Spellbound.
In other categories, the Spanish-language musical crime comedy Emilia Pérez and British psychological drama Conclave lead the pack in terms of overall longlist appearances, being acknowledged 15 and 14 times respectively. Meanwhile, actors portraying real-life characters have also been longlisted, such as Jude Law for his role as Henry VIII in Firebrand, and Sebastian Stan for his portrayal of Donald Trump in The Apprentice. Kingsley Ben-Adir's depiction of Bob Marley in One Love and Timothée Chalamet's portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown have also been recognized.
The Bafta winners will be announced during a ceremony set to take place in London on February 16. This ceremony promises to be a prestigious event bringing together filmmakers and actors who have excelled in their craft.
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