Film Awards Judging Process

06 January 12

Find out how films and actors get voted for the most prestigious accolade in the film industry, the British Academy Film Awards.

Winning a BAFTA...

Every year around 250 films get entered by distributors, producers or Academy Members for consideration at the Orange British Academy Film awards.

The Academy’s members are individuals representing all fields of the Film, Television and Video Games industries. Each one has made a significant contribution to their particular field.

In order to determine who takes home the award in each category from that initial group of 250 films there is a voting system that takes place over three separate rounds.

Round 1

In Round 1 all film-voting members of BAFTA (6500) can vote up to twelve times in each category from the full list of films entered. Once the votes are in from this first stage, then the top 15 films from each category go through to a long list in Round 2.

Round 2

In Round 2 all BAFTA members can again vote in each category. This time the members only get to vote five times in each separate section. The five most popular films from each category after the round two votes come in make it to the final round of voting, where they will be announced at a press conference at the BAFTA head quarters at 195 Piccadilly around a month before the actual award ceremony takes place.

Round 3

For most BAFTA members, Round 3 is the most simple. Members have only one vote each in the following categories:

For every other category at the awards only members of the Academy who have expertise and experience in specialist fields related to those categories can vote. For example, the winner of the Editing category is decided by members with editing experience. Members voting in their specialist chapters have one vote in each section.

Frequently Asked Questions...

How are films entered?

As long as a film passes the rules of eligibility then it may be entered for the film awards. A film may be qualified for consideration by the films distributor or producer, or by any Academy voting member. Once the film is submitted then a screen credits form will be required to be completed by the distributor or producer.

What happens once a film is submitted?

Once a film has been submitted and a screen credits form been fully completed then the film enters the first round of the voting system. Distributors can send out screener DVDs or organise screenings of their entered films. The announcement for the shortlist of nominees takes place at 195 Piccadilly around a month before the ceremony is due to take place.

What makes a film eligible?

In order for a film to be valid for consideration its first public exhibition must be in a cinema (rather than on television or online), and it must have a UK theatrical release in a public UK cinema for no fewer than seven consecutive days in the calendar year that corresponds to the upcoming awards. If a film opens between 1 January and the Friday before the Awards in February then it may be eligible as long as it is screened to Academy voting members before a certain date. A film must be feature length, i.e. with a running time exceeding 60 minutes. Films from all countries are eligible in all categories, with the exception of Outstanding British Film, Outstanding Debut, Short Film and Short Animation which are for British films only.

Who votes?

In order to vote you must be a registered member of BAFTA. There are around 6500 BAFTA members with the large majority being creatives or professionals in the film, video and television industries. Non-members can vote for the Orange Wednesdays Rising Star Award where a list of five potential future film stars are up for a public vote.

Do all members vote in all categories?

Within the voting membership, there are specialist voting chapters, consisting of at least 80 members with direct experience in the relevant field.

The chapters are:

In earlier rounds, all members have the option to vote in all categories, but can abstain in any category in which they do not feel they have sufficient experience to make an informed decision. In the first round, although all members can vote, the votes of the relevant chapter in each category are counted separately, and their top 5 are guaranteed to go through to the second round. These chapter selections are flagged in the longlist.

In the final round of voting, all members vote for Best Film, Film Not in the English Language, Outstanding British Film, Documentary and the four performance categories. The winners of the other categories are decided only by members of the relevant chapter.

Are any of the awards decided differently?

Film Not in the English Language, Outstanding British Film and Documentary: nominations are decided by a chapter of members with an interest in and understanding of these types of films. All members vote to decide the winners in round three.

Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer: nominations and winners in this category are judged by a combination of BAFTA's Film Committee and a jury.

Short Film and Short Animation: nominations are decided by a jury, and Chapters vote to decide the winners.

Animated Film: the membership and animation chapter vote for five films in Round One. The chapter’s top three, and the next two from the general membership vote are long listed; these are reduced to three nominations in Round Two. The chapter votes for the winner.

Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema and the Academy Fellowship: these awards are in the gift of the Academy. The Fellowship is the highest accolade the Academy can bestow.

Where is the ceremony held and where can I watch it?

The Orange British Academy Film Awards take place at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London. This historic venue has been the home of the BAFTA’s since 2007. The venue holds 2000 people and is the perfect setting for the showpiece ceremony for British film. Although tickets to the ceremony are only available to people working in the industry, the show is normally broadcast on the BBC with a few hours time delay. For a chance to get closer to the stars as they arrive on the red carpet, there is a chance to queue and watch the arrivals in public pens. Access to the pens is available to people with wristbands which are distributed on a first come first serve basis. Click here for more information.

Film Awards Judging Process