LONDON — Underdog-turned-favourite Slumdog Millionaire, a British-Indian film shot in Mumbai, picked up 11 nominations yesterday for the Orange British Academy Film Awards.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, starring Brad Pitt, was also nominated in 11 categories by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
The winners of the 2009 awards will be announced at the Royal Opera House in London on Feb. 8. The BAFTAs are considered an important indicator of success at the Academy Awards two weeks later.
BAFTA nominees in key categories:
Best picture The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Milk, The Reader, Slumdog Millionaire.
Best British picture Hunger, In Bruges, Mamma Mia!,
Man on Wire, Slumdog Millionaire
Best director Clint Eastwood (Changeling), David Fincher
(Benjamin Button), Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon), Stephen Daldry
(The Reader), Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Original screenplay Joel and Ethan Coen (Burn After Reading),
J. Michael Straczynski (Changeling), Philippe Claudel (I've Loved You So Long), Martin McDonagh (In Bruges), Dustin Lance Black (Milk)
Adapted screenplay Eric Roth (Benjamin Button); Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon); David Hare (The Reader); Justin Haythe
(Revolutionary Road); Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best actor Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon), Dev Patel
(Slumdog Millionaire), Brad Pitt (Benjamin Button), Sean Penn (Milk), Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)
Best actress Angelina Jolie (The Changeling), Kristin Scott Thomas (I've Loved You So Long), Meryl Streep (Doubt), Kate Winslet
(The Reader and Revolutionary Road)
Best supporting actor Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder),
Brendan Gleeson (In Bruges), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt),
Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight), Brad Pitt (Burn After Reading)
Best supporting actress Amy Adams (Doubt); Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona); Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire);
Tilda Swinton (Burn After Reading); Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler)