Film Awards Judging Process

14 July 08

Find out how your favourite films and actors get voted for the most prestigious accolade in the film industry, the British Academy Film Awards.

For over 60 years the British Academy Film Awards have stood out as an internationally recognised mark of excellence. Winning a BAFTA mask means more than just glitz and glamour – although that is certainly part of the process! The award also represents significant recognition from fellow professionals within the film industry.

The Academy regularly reviews voting for the Film Awards to ensure that it represents the broadest and most informed process possible. We are determined to maintain our reputation for an open, judicious and relevant voting.

Eligibility

For the Awards in 2009, any film released in the UK between 1 January and 31 December 2008 can be entered for consideration by BAFTA Members, film distributors and producers. Films opening between 1 January and 6 February inclusive can also be 'qualified' by the distributors by being screened to BAFTA Members by 18 December 2008.

Three Rounds to Glory

Voting is conducted confidentially in three rounds by Academy Film Voting Members – those members with a professional or creative link to the film industry.

In the first round of voting Members may vote for up to 12 films/individuals per category or register their abstention from any category where they feel unqualified to vote.

A long list of nominations in each category is produced for the second round of voting where Members may vote for up to five films/individuals per category. The top five in each category form the final list of nominations for the third and final round of voting,

In the third round, Academy Film Voting Members determine the winner in each of the following categories:

Best Film
Leading Actor
Leading Actress
Supporting Actor
Supporting Actress
Film Not in the English Language

Chapters and Juries

In all remaining categories, the members of Chapters or Juries determine the vote.

A Chapter is comprised of Academy voting members with expertise in a specialized field of the film industry (editing, sound etc.), ensuring that the members who vote in these categories are those with professional knowledge and experience in that field.

Any categories with fewer than 80 Chapter members are decided by a jury. Juries are chaired by members of the Academy’s Film Committee who appoint jury members working within that area of the industry. After viewing the five nominated films in their appointed category the juries meet to discuss and vote on the winner.

More about Chapter and Jury Voting

Other Award Categories

For the third year running, the Orange Rising Star Award allows the public the opportunity to vote for an actor or actress who has demonstrated exceptional talent and ambition and who has already begun to capture the public's imagination as a star in the making.

Finally, certain awards are decided by the Academy Film Committee and ratified by the Board of Trustees. These include Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema and the Academy's highest honour, the Fellowship .