BAFTA’s film award nominations were announced this morning with Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel emerging as the early frontrunner, but there was disappointment for fans of Forest Hill’s Timothy Spall.

The actor was virtually a dead cert in some quarters for a nomination for Best Leading Actor for his turn as artist JMW Turner in Mike Leigh’s Mr Turner but missed out as nominations went to Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game), Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything), Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler), Michael Keaton (Birdman) and Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel).

The awards, which will be announced at a lavish ceremony at the Royal Opera House on February 8, are Britain’s contribution to the major film awards’ season which concludes with the Oscars on February 22.

News Shopper: REVIEW: The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Grand Budapest Hotel, which features Blackheath’s Jude Law in a supporting role, received 11 BAFTA nominations this morning, including for best film, director, screenplay and actor for Ralph Fiennes.

Birdman (review here) and The Theory of Everything both grabbed ten nominations while The Imitation Game picked up nine.

Richard Linklater’s Boyhood - which was filmed over 12 years - received five.

A surprise package for some, Whiplash, received five nominations. A best supporting actor nod was expected for JK Simmons’ dazzling turn as a terrifying music teacher but 29-year-old writer/director Damien Chazelle was also nominated for best director and original screenplay. The film also got shortlisted for editing and sound.

News Shopper:

Both Mark Ruffalo and Steve Carell are both nominated for best supporting actor for their roles in Foxcatcher, reviewed here.