And the winner is ... London rolls out red carpet for BAFTA Film Awards

Hollywood stars descended on London on Sunday for the annual BAFTA Film Awards, where U.S. historical drama "Oppenheimer", one of the highest-grossing films of 2023, leads nominations for Britain's top movie honours.

The three-hour epic about the making of the atomic bomb during World War Two has 13 nods, including for the night's top prize — best film — which it is the current favourite to win.

British actress Daisy Edgar Jones poses on the red carpet upon arrival at the BAFTA. AFP

In the next few hours, Hollywood actors, including Emma Stone, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, will make their way to the ceremony, which is taking place at the Royal Festival Hall.

The winners will be named exactly one month after the nominated films, actors, directors and writers were revealed by former EE Rising Star nominees Naomi Ackie and Kingsley Ben-Adir during a live press conference.

Also leading betting odds are the film's Irish star Cillian Murphy, who plays the American theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, to win the leading actor prize and Briton Christopher Nolan for best director.

"Really deeply impactful stories resonate with audiences through the ages, and it is a story for the ages," Anna Higgs, chair of the BAFTA Film Committee, told Reuters on the ceremony's red carpet at the Royal Festival Hall, by the River Thames.

Laura Blair, Arielle Free (C) and Rosamund Pike pose for photos during the ceremony. Reuters / AFP

The other contenders for best film include Emma Stone's sex-charged gothic comedy "Poor Things," "The Zone of Interest" — about the commandant of Auschwitz and his family living next to the death camp, Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon," about the murders of members of the Osage Nation in the 1920s, courtroom drama "Anatomy of a Fall" and "The Holdovers," a comedy set in a boys' boarding school.

"Poor Things" has 11 nominations, including one for previous BAFTA and Oscar winner Stone, who is the favourite to win the leading actress category.

Emily Atack arrives at the 2024 British Academy of Film and Television Awards. Reuters

We just hope that people feel like this is a unique cinema experience and it says something about the world," writer Tony McNamara, whose "Poor Things" script is nominated for adapted screenplay, told Reuters.

Emma Corrin poses for a photo during the ceremony. AFP

None of the best director contenders has previously won the award and four out of the six are first-time director nominees.

"Anatomy of a Fall" director Justine Triet is the only woman on the list, with the omission of "Barbie" director Greta Gerwig raising some eyebrows.

Charlie McDowell, left, and Lily Collins pose for photographers. AP

"Barbie," the highest grossing film of 2023, has five nominations overall, including leading actress for Margot Robbie and supporting actor for Ryan Gosling.

Mia McKenna-Bruce arrives at the ceremony. Reuters

As well as a spate of celebrities, BAFTA President Prince William is also expected at the awards, albeit without his wife Kate, who recently underwent surgery.

British actress Lily Collins poses on the red carpet upon arrival at the BAFTA. AFP

Known as the BAFTAs (British Academy of Film and Television Arts), the ceremony will be hosted by actor David Tennant.

The Independent / Reuters