BAFTA has confirmed its eligibility and voting rules for the 2023 EE British Academy Film Awards, building on changes introduced as part of the first phase of the BAFTA review in 2020.
The changes come to the first-round/longlist voting process, as well as the nomination process for the directing, hair/makeup, and performance categories. Changes have also been made to the eligibility window for films and to determining which producers are eligible for certain awards.
The longlist round, first introduced in 2021 following the 2020 BAFTA review, will now see each category voted on by a relevant craft chapter – defined as a group of at least 100 BAFTA members with knowledge specializing in craft covered in voting category – opt -in chapter, or jury. The only exception will be the Best Picture category, for which all voting members of the movie will be able to vote.
From 2023, Long List nominations for Best Picture and all craft categories will be limited to 10 films (out of 15); Outstanding British Film will now be 15 films (out of 20); and the Outstanding Director category will be 16 films (instead of 20), with an equal split between male and female nominees. The long lists for the Outstanding Debut, British Short Film and British Short Animation categories will remain unchanged at 10, 10 and 6, respectively.
For the Outstanding Administrators category, the top two administrators from the Chapter vote in the first round will be automatically nominated, regardless of gender. The five highest rated female and male directors will be shortlisted, and the shortlisting jury will then select the remaining three female directors and three male directors to create the full long list of 16, with an equal gender split. In the second round, the nominating jury will select four directors to join the two automatically nominated in the first round, to create a final list of six nominations.
For producers, from 2023, the PGA will determine eligible producers in the Documentary, Animated Film and Non-English Film categories. If the PGA has not determined eligible producers in these categories, the maximum number of eligible producers will remain at one (with the director), without appeal.
In terms of eligibility, the period in which films must be theatrically released in the UK in order to be considered for the awards will run from 1 January 2022 to 17 February 2023. The only exceptions will be for the documentary and the film not in English. Language categories (FNIEL), for which eligible entries can be published until March 10, 2023 inclusive. Day and date releases will be eligible, although VOD-only releases will not.
“We believe deeply in ensuring our processes are clear and transparent for voters, encouraging as many movies as possible to watch, and leveling the playing field for everyone,” said Anna Higgs, President of the BAFTA Film Committee, in a press release. “Developed in consultation with industry stakeholders and global BAFTA members, the eligibility and voting updates continue to place excellence at the heart of everything we do, and we look forward to celebrating extraordinary UK and international talent at the upcoming Film Awards.”
The long list will be revealed on January 6, 2023, followed by nominations on January 19, before the EE British Academy Film Awards ceremony on February 19.
