BAFTA publishes rules and timeline for The EE British Academy Film Awards 2022

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has today published the rules and timeline for the EE British Academy Film Awards 2022, following its annual review of all categories. BAFTA’s Film Committee undertakes this review each year in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders across the industry. This review continues to build on the work of BAFTA’s 2020 Review which introduced sweeping changes to Awards, membership and the wider Academy.

As previously announced, the Film Awards will take place on Sunday 13 March 2022, and nominations are now confirmed to be announced on Thursday 3 February 2022. The 2022 timeline is available in full at http://awards.bafta.org/entry.

A summary of new rules can be found below, please see http://awards.bafta.org/entry for full rules & eligibility requirements.

Eligibility

Special eligibility measures put in place for the 2021 Film Awards to take into account the Coronavirus pandemic will continue to cover films released 1 January – 30 June 2021. These films need to meet the lower qualifying threshold of a minimum of one theatrical screening per day for seven days (excluding festival screenings); or an approved UK VOD platform minimum 30-day release if the original intention of a theatrical release was not possible due to the pandemic.

From 1 July 2021 – 11 March 2022 films are eligible if they have been theatrically exhibited publicly to a paying audience on at least ten commercial screens in the UK for at least seven days in aggregate (excluding festival screenings).

Following the positive feedback, the Documentary and Film Not in the English Language categories continue to have a lower qualifying threshold and an extended eligibility period. These films can be entered into all categories if they have been exhibited publicly on at least one commercial screen in the UK for no fewer than seven days in aggregate (not including festival screenings); and their eligibility period runs until 31 March 2022.

Outstanding Debut eligibility also continues to have the lower qualifying threshold if films have been exhibited publicly on at least one commercial screen in the UK for no fewer than seven days in aggregate. For the first time, Debut titles may also qualify by screening at festival(s) included on the new Debut Qualifying Festival List. Debut titles releasing internationally (and not in UK) may also be eligible. These two key changes to this category are to ensure that the first film made by a debut British writer, director or producer will be considered (rather than their first film which would only qualify with a UK theatrical release), and is introduced as BAFTA continues to strengthen its support and shine a spotlight on British films and filmmakers.

For the Film Awards 2022, documentaries which are commissioned by a broadcaster or streamer will need to appeal to the Film Committee to be considered for entry to the Film Awards. This does not apply to acquisitions.

Voting

Several changes have been introduced to the Film Award voting procedures this year, as the Film Committee continues to build on the recommendations and changes implemented following the BAFTA 2020 Review. Key changes include:

Director: the directing chapter will continue to vote in Round One for their top 20; of these the top seven male and female directors will be automatically longlisted, with the remaining three male and three female directors selected by the longlisting jury (previously the longlisting jury put through two male and two female directors to add to eight male and female directors voted for by the directing chapter). The voting process in Round Two and Three remain unchanged.

Performance categories: the top two performances in each of the four acting categories voted for by the acting chapter in Round One will be automatically nominated, otherwise the longlisting and nominating jury process introduced for the 2021 Awards will continue. Headshots of performers will also be published on BAFTA View for the first time.

Documentary: Round One voting will continue to be carried out by the Documentary opt-in chapter to create the longlist of 15 titles with the top two from this round being automatically nominated. This year a specialist jury is also being introduced for Round Two, to vote for the remaining three nominees. The winner will continue to be selected by the opt-in chapter (previously the opt-in chapter determined all nominations after Round One).

Sound: Films longlisted for Sound are invited to submit an eight-minute clip (unedited from the film) to be shown to Sound chapter members at 195 Piccadilly ahead of the Round Two nominations voting deadline for the Sound chapter.

DVDS / BAFTA View

As previously announced, the Film Awards 2022 will be the first year DVDs are no longer permitted.

Significant upgrades have been made to BAFTA View to improve member experience and functionality (further details to be announced), and Hard of Hearing (HOH) subtitles are now mandatory for all films made available on BAFTA View.

Commenting on the changes to the awards rules and eligibility this year Emma Baehr, Executive Director of Awards & Content at BAFTA, said: “As the industry continues to rebound following the incredibly difficult last 18 months, we have made changes to our rules and eligibility criteria to reflect feedback we’ve had from our members and the industry and to continue to build on the work of the ongoing Review. We are looking forward to this year’s awards and welcoming back our guests and nominees to the Royal Albert Hall.”

Anna Higgs, Chair of the BAFTA Film Committee, said: “The global film industry has experienced massive disruption and BAFTA is keenly aware that distributors have faced some insurmountable challenges in getting films to audiences.  The changes for the 2022 awards reflect our deep and continuing consultation with our industry colleagues to ensure we engage with the issues our partners face, adapt to innovation, at the same time as embracing film’s return to cinemas. We hope the updates to voting procedures in the documentary, performance and director categories, the lower threshold for qualifying films and the amendments to the Outstanding Debut titles show we are committed to making positive changes to reflect the needs of the industry. In our efforts to continue to support British talent at all levels, we are really excited that the increased flexibility for films qualifying for Outstanding Debut will truly shine a light on emerging British filmmakers.”

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is a world-leading independent arts charity that brings the very best work in film, games and television to public attention and supports the growth of creative talent in the UK and internationally. Through its Awards ceremonies and year-round programme of learning events and initiatives – which includes workshops, masterclasses, scholarships, lectures and mentoring schemes in the UK, USA and Asia – BAFTA identifies and celebrates excellence, discovers, inspires and nurtures new talent, and enables learning and creative collaboration. For advice and inspiration from the best creative minds in working in film, games and television, visit www.bafta.org/guru. For more, visit www.bafta.org.

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