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Film Awards Categories

07 January 09

The Academy’s annual Film Awards have continued to evolve since their inception. This year, 24 film awards will be presented to the industry’s outstanding talent.

From only three categories at the first Film Awards in 1948, BAFTA now recognises outstanding achievement in 24 Film-related categories. The Academy's Film voting membership, juries and chapters determine the nominees and winners in the majority of categories. We also give out high-profile awards, such as the Academy Fellowship, the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award and the Outstanding British Film Award which are Gifts of the Film Committee and Board of Trustees.

The Academy Fellowship

This is the highest accolade the Academy presents and is bestowed for an individual's work and achievements throughout their career in the industry. The first Fellowship was presented to Alfred Hitchcock. Others include Freddie Young OBE, David Lean, Sir Charles Chaplin, Sir Richard Attenborough CBE, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, Steven Spielberg, Louis Malle, Federico Fellini, Sydney Samuelson CBE, Jeanne Moreau, Julie Christie, Abel Gance, Michael Caine and Stanley Kubrick.

See the full list of Fellows

Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema

Introduced in 1978. The first recipients were the Special Visual Effects team for Superman. Others include: Kevin Brownlow, Charles Crichton, Mike Leigh, Ken Loach, Alan Parker/Alan Marshall, Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jarman, Lewis Gilbert, Channel Four Films, Mike Roberts, Joyce Herlihy and Vic Armstrong. This award is presented in honour of Michael Balcon.

Find out more

Outstanding British Film

Introduced in 1992. This award is presented in honour of Alexander Korda.

Winning films include: Nil by Mouth, Shadowlands, The Crying Game, The Madness Of King George, Secrets & Lies, Shallow Grave, Elizabeth, East Is East and The Last King of Scotland.

The Carl Foreman Award

for Special Achievement by a British Director, Writer or Producer in their First Feature Film

Established in 1992 and inaugurated as a British Academy Award in 1998. The first recipient was Richard Kwietniowski (Love & Death On Long Island). Others include Lynne Ramsay (Ratcatcher), Pawel Pawlikowski (The Last Resort), Joel Hopkins & Nicola Usborne (Jump Tomorrow), Asif Kapadia (The Warrior), Emily Young (Kiss Of Life), Amma Asante (A Way of Life), Joe Wright (Pride & Prejudice), Andrea Arnold (Red Road) and Matt Greenhalgh (Control).