Screen’s panel of anonymous awards voters explain how they prioritise what they watch, the impact of Q&As, and the films that have surprised them.
Bafta-nominated writer/director 1, female, Bafta & Ampas voter
With more than 200 feature films eligible for this year’s awards, how do you prioritise what you watch, and what leads your holiday viewing list?
I pay attention to debut films and the films that don’t have the big push behind them, but inevitably word of mouth and the buzz gets to me and makes me also show up for those titles that are heavily promoted. I am looking forward over the holidays to watching Dreamers, I Swear, My Father’s Shadow, Resurrection, and documentaries Folktales, The Tale Of Silyan and The Perfect Neighbor.
How many in-person awards screenings have you been able to attend, and how much do Q&As impact you?
I have been to a good amount – a great Q&A can add to the experience. At a Q&A for H Is For Hawk, the writer Helen Macdonald spoke beautifully about the story and where it came from. Q&As with lots of people on stage tend to work less well as they never go very deep. Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal were great in a Hamnet Q&A, as was the little boy, Jacobi Jupe; the two young actors in Brides are so full of passion and were inspiring to listen to; the Q&A for Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere was exciting just because the Boss was there and so was [his music producer] Jon Landau.
Which hidden gem has surprised you, and that you would urge other voters to watch?
Lurker is a gripping, well-made debut.
Acquisitions & commissioning executive, male, Bafta voter
How do you prioritise what you watch, and what leads your holiday viewing list?
I find the screening groups useful. I also try to watch as many British films as possible as this is the British Academy, and then I will watch all the animated features so I can vote in that section. Beyond those titles, I am looking forward to seeing Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme and Bradley Cooper’s Is This Thing On?.
How many in-person Bafta screenings have you been able to attend, and how much do Q&As impact you?
Unfortunately I have been unable to make many screenings due to work and family commitments. However, based on the Q&As I have seen at festivals and watching those of the films my company has been involved with, I think they are incredibly important. If they are well done with a good moderator and an engaged panel, they can be very powerful and supportive.
Which hidden gem has surprised you, and that you would urge other voters to watch?
Dragonfly – it’s almost too slow of a burn but the ending is incredible. I have never seen a reaction like the screening I was in.
Producer 1, female, Bafta voter
How do you prioritise what you watch? Which titles are top of your list to watch over the holidays ahead of voting?
After I have watched the 15 in my viewing group, I tend to prioritise any titles not in the English language that I’ve not already seen, and anything over two hours I’ll definitely leave to the holidays if I’m not seeing it in person – let’s be realistic! I am looking forward to Die My Love, The Secret Agent, Lollipop, Marty Supreme and Motherboard, which I’ve heard is fantastic. I am very word-of-mouth and filmmaker-driven.
How many in-person awards screenings have you been able to attend, and how much do Q&As impact you?
As much as I’ll inevitably watch the majority on my large-ish TV, I do try to see as many as I can in person in a cinema, so that I can get the full theatrical experience as the filmmakers intended. Q&As with creatives involved are always a plus as you gain insights into the film you just saw. I’ve seen about 50 in-person screenings so far this season.
Which hidden gem has surprised you, and that you would urge other voters to watch?
All That’s Left Of You by Cherien Dabis isn’t what I thought it would be, in the best possible way. It surprises you as it unfolds, and three generations of a family are played by three members of the same Palestinian acting family, which is a masterstroke – and not a spoiler.
Communications executive 1, male, Bafta voter
How do you prioritise what you watch? Which titles are top of your list to watch over the holidays ahead of voting?
I prioritise what I would want to watch as a cinemagoer, and luckily that encompasses most films. On top of that, I have an eye on what awards pundits are saying and what’s popped out of major festivals. I like this time of the season, when everyone publishes ‘films of the year’ lists, as they can be a good way of remembering what you’ve not yet watched.
How many in-person awards screenings have you been able to attend, and how much do Q&As impact you?
I made around 15 screenings and probably four or five of them were with Q&As. I like a Q&A and will try and go for big directors or actors who I like – and often on a second viewing of a film I really liked.
Which hidden gem has surprised you, and that you would urge other voters to watch?
Plainclothes was an accomplished debut – a smart use of grainy VHS visuals, well-acted and it has stayed with me.
Producer 2, male, Bafta voter
How do you prioritise what you watch? Which titles are top of your list to watch over the holidays ahead of voting?
I love Bafta asking everyone to watch 15 random films via the assigned viewing groups, to deliver word of mouth for those with lower marketing budgets. Miramax won so many Oscars partly because they were ruthless in making sure everyone saw their films. If half of the audience likes your movie, you’ll get 3,000 votes if 6,000 see it and 50 votes if 100 see it.
I save a few of the more obvious titles to enjoy during the holidays. I haven’t seen Bugonia, Hamnet or One Battle After Another yet.
How many in-person awards screenings have you been able to attend, and how much do Q&As impact you?
I tend to favour filmmaker discussions, particularly when the writers are included. Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein were fabulous at the Q&A for Marty Supreme. Their odd-couple routine of how they endlessly fought with each other over the script, the characters and the cut was a great counter to the “Whatever you want, darling” approach of the streamers that’s led to less than perfect four-hour epics from some of our once-great directors. Having said that, even though I loved it, I would still have trimmed about 15 minutes from Marty Supreme.
Which hidden gem has surprised you, and that you would urge other voters to watch?
Cover-Up. A fabulous character and a great investigative journalist giving us a painfully timely reminder that democracies need fearless scrutiny.
Producer 3, male, Bafta voter
How do you prioritise what you watch?
Firstly, I prioritise the films that people are talking about and seem like they are in the running. However, I do think certain films are promoted irrespective of their merits, end-of-year lists are nearly always very white, and ‘best’ often means ‘most commercial’. After that, I choose films where I know someone involved in the production and, finally, I go for recommendations. I try to watch as much as possible before voting.
How many in-person awards screenings have you been able to attend, and how much do Q&As impact you?
I make every effort to go to cinema screenings and a Q&A is an added bonus. This year, however, I’ve had to watch everything online apart from trips to the local cinema. Q&As have a massive impact if I like the filmmaker and they open up the film or offer a point of view I’d not thought about; I can be swayed. Unfortunately a lot of Q&As are pretty mundane and everything feels too vanilla and rehearsed.
Which hidden gem has surprised you, and that you would urge other voters to watch?
On the animation side, people should check out Usman Riaz’s The Glassworker for some good old-fashioned hand-drawn work.
Communications executive 2, male, Bafta voter
How do you prioritise what you watch? Which titles are top of your list to watch over the holidays ahead of voting?
It’s a balance of catching up with the ‘big’ films everyone’s talking about, watching the 15 titles in my voting group, and then seeking out anything that personally appeals – whether because of the subject matter or the filmmaker. The next three high-profile films on my list are Marty Supreme, Hamnet and The Testament Of Ann Lee. Once I’ve seen them, I can start branching out a bit – both Mother Vera and Sorry, Baby really appeal, for example.
How many in-person awards screenings have you been able to attend, and how much do Q&As impact you?
I have only managed a handful of in-person screenings this year. I can honestly say I have never been swayed by a Q&A. They’re so often rehearsed and safe – full of mutual gushing and studio-approved talking points. If I’m already enthusiastic about a film, it’s nice to hear the filmmakers discuss it, but it won’t influence my vote. And no amount of Q&A charm will transform a middling film. If I dislike a film, I usually leave before the Q&A starts; experience has shown that staying will make me dislike it more.
Which hidden gem has surprised you, and that you would urge other voters to watch?
I was genuinely moved by Prime Minister, the documentary about [former New Zealand premier] Jacinda Ardern. The film should be compulsory viewing for anyone in – or aspiring to be in – leadership. It shows that strength and principle can coexist with compassion and the courage to show vulnerability.
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