Most film lovers are aware of the BAFTAs (sometimes called the British Academy Awards), but few know much about the actual organization aside from its annual awards show honoring the year's top films. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is an independent arts charity that offers a year-round, international program of workshops, masterclasses, lectures, scholarships, and mentoring in the United Kingdom, America, and Asia.

Each year, the organization honors not just the year's top films, but also its best television programs, games, and more. This year, BAFTA will announce its film winners on Sunday, February 19, three weeks before the Oscars, which are presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Over the last five years, AMPAS and BAFTA have chosen the same lead actor and actress winners nine times out of 10. Last year's Oscar winner for Best Actress, Jessica Chastain for "The Eyes of Tammy Faye," failed to earn a BAFTA nomination. Interestingly enough, there was no overlap among nominees in that category last year. In the supporting categories, the winners have also matched nine times out of the last 10. BAFTA is not as accurate in predicting Best Picture at the Oscars, as the two awards have only gone to the same film once in the past five years – "Nomadland," released in 2020.

Leading the BAFTA film nominations this year is "All Quiet on the Western Front," with 14 nods including Best Film. The German-language film tied 2000's "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" with the most nominations for a non-English movie in BAFTA history.

Other movies vying for Best Film including "The Banshees of Inisherin" and "Everything Everywhere All At Once," which both earned 10 nominations. "Elvis" with nine nods and "Tár" with five round out the list of Best Film contenders. While Steven Spielberg's autobiographical "The Fabelmans" is expected to be an Oscar frontrunner, it earned just one BAFTA nomination, for Original Screenplay (penned by Spielberg and Tony Kushner).

Leading Actress is a stacked category that includes recent Golden Globe and Critics' Choice Award winner Cate Blanchett ("Tár), as well as Viola Davis ("The Woman King"), Danielle Deadwyler ("Till"), Ana de Armas ("Blonde"), Emma Thompson ("Good Luck to You, Leo Grande"), and recent Golden Globe winner Michelle Yeoh ("Everything Everywhere All At Once").