The Bafta film awards will take place in April without a live audience, it has been confirmed.
The British Academy’s annual ceremony has already been pushed back from February 14 to April 11, in line with the postponement of the Oscars, before indoor entertainment venues are due to reopen in May under the Government’s road map out of lockdown.
The awards show, held at the Royal Albert Hall in recent years, is usually a star-studded affair, with Hollywood A-listers jetting in from the US for the occasion and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge frequently in attendance.
Amanda Berry, chief executive of Bafta, told the PA news agency the “ingredients” of the ceremony are still being worked out.
She added: “There is still a lot of work to do but it’s really exciting because, when you are forced to do something in a different way, it challenges you to think, ‘OK, we are creative bunch, how can we do this?’
“So I’m actually really excited about what we are going to be doing.”
The largely virtual Golden Globes was recently hosted from Los Angeles and New York with a small, socially distanced audience of first responders and essential workers wearing masks.
However, Ms Berry said that will not be the case at the Baftas, adding: “Sadly no, that is not allowed in these times.”
The film academy has announced the nominees for the EE Rising Star Award, the only gong voted for by the public.
The five-strong list is made up of Rocks actress Bukky Bakray, County Lines star Conrad Khan, One Night In Miami’s Kingsley Ben-Adir, Saint Maud star Morfydd Clark and His House actor Ṣọpe Dirisu.
It’s official! Meet the all-British lineup of nominees for the 2021 @EE Rising Star Award:
⭐Bukky Bakray⭐Conrad Khan⭐Kingsley Ben-Adir⭐Morfydd Clark⭐Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù
Find out more: https://t.co/EHczKnQlXY #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/W0s5sCr5Mv
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) March 3, 2021
Ms Berry said: “What a five we have got this year, it is such a range of performances, but what cuts through them all is incredible talent, and watching the announcement today and seeing the faces of those that have been nominated, you can see how much it means.
“The film industry is a tough industry to get into, every day at Bafta we are trying to find and support the next generation of talent.”
Public voting for the EE Rising Star Award is now open at
ee.co.uk/BAFTA
and the winner will be announced at the ceremony on April 11.