A Year of Music in Movies
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced its nominations for 2024, and this year, music is taking the spotlight. For the first time, the BAFTA Awards have recognized many films that are either musicals or inspired by music. Among the top films are Wicked, A Complete Unknown, and Emilia Pérez, all of which received big nominations this week. These films show how music and stories come together, making 2024 the most musical year in BAFTA history.
Top Films with Music Themes
One of the leading films this year is Conclave, a Spanish-language musical directed by Jacques Audiard. The film received 11 nominations, including for its three main actresses—Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, and Zoe Saldaña. Audiard also earned three nominations for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Not in the English Language. The film’s cinematographer, Paul Guilhaume, and composers Camille and Clement Ducol also earned nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Original Score.
Another big nominee is Wicked, a film adaptation of the famous Broadway musical. It received seven nominations, including one for Cynthia Erivo’s first-ever nomination as Best Actress for her role as Elphaba. Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda, also got a nomination for Best Supporting Actress. The film’s costume designer, Paul Tazewell, and sound team also received nominations.
Bob Dylan’s Music in A Complete Unknown
The film A Complete Unknown tells the story of music legend Bob Dylan. Timothée Chalamet was nominated for Best Actor for playing Dylan. The movie also received nominations for Best Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Ed Norton. The film, filled with Dylan’s famous songs, impressed the BAFTA judges.
New Film Kneecap Makes History
The Irish film Kneecap made history as the most-nominated debut film ever at the BAFTAs. Directed by Peppiatt, the movie about the hip-hop trio Kneecap from Belfast earned six nominations, including Best Outstanding British Film and Best Debut Film by a British Writer, Director, or Producer. It was also nominated for Best Casting and Best Original Screenplay. The three actors who play the lead roles, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, all play themselves in the film, making it feel real and true to their story.
A Wide Variety of Nominations
This year’s BAFTA nominations not only celebrate music but also cover many different film genres. Historical films like Blitz from Steve McQueen and big-action films like Dune: Part Two and Gladiator II are in the running. There are also nominations for horror films like Heretic and The Substance.
Anna Higgs, the chair of the BAFTA film committee, said that 2024 is “the most musicals or music-inspired year in BAFTA history.” The wide range of films nominated shows how different types of films, from musicals to action and horror, are all being recognized.
As the awards season continues, it will be exciting to see how these music-inspired films shape the year and prove that combining music with film can create powerful, award-winning stories.