Film Awards Judging Process

06 January 12

Winning a BAFTA...

Every year around 250 films get entered by distributors, producers or Academy Members for consideration at the EE 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 two rounds.

In Round 1 all film-voting members of BAFTA (6500) can vote up to five times from the full list of films entered in the following categories:

• Best Film
• Leading Actress
• Leading Actor
• Supporting Actress
• Supporting Actor

Specialist Chapters made up of Members with specific expertise in the relevant field vote for the nominations in the following categories by casting up to five votes:

• Director
• Cinematography
• Adapted Screenplay
• Original Screenplay
• Production Design
• Costume Design
• Original Music
• Make Up & Hair
• Editing
• Sound
• Special Visual Effects

Members who would like to vote in the following categories may opt-in to a Chapter if they commit to watching additional films in these genres and have an interest in and understanding of these types of films:

• Animated Film
• Documentary
• Film Not in the English Language
• Outstanding British Film

Once the votes are in from this first stage, they are calculated and the top five in each produce the nominations. We ask voting members to rank their votes, this ranking is applied when there is a tie. The nominations are announced at a press conference at BAFTA headquarters at 195 Piccadilly around a month before the actual award ceremony takes place

Round 2

In Round 2 all BAFTA members cast one vote in every category, the only exceptions being the Opt-in Chapters, whereby only those in the Opt-in Chapters will vote for the winner. The film/performance with the most votes in each category is the winner.

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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 the entrant is required to supply screen credits and supporting material by the entry deadline (14 November in 2012). Once they have completed a non-disclosure agreement with our Membership Department, Entrants may organise screenings of their entered films, send out screener DVDs or online viewing opportunities.

What happens once a film is submitted?

Once a film has been submitted and a screen credits and supporting materials have been supplied then the film enters the first round of the voting system. The nominees announcement 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 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 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 who are professionals in the film, video and television industries. Non-members can vote for the EE Rising Star Award where a list of five potential future film stars are up for a public vote.

Are any of the awards decided differently?

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

• Short Film and Short Animation: nominations are decided by a Jury, and an Opt-in Short Film Chapter vote to decide the winners.

• 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 EE 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.

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