Bafta Voting Insider Exposes Awards Process Secrets
A voting member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts has lifted the curtain on how winners are truly determined at the prestigious awards ceremony. Film critic Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, who participates in the Bafta voting process, has shared detailed insights that challenge common assumptions about the rigorousness of film viewing by voters.
Not All Films Are Watched by Voters
Contrary to popular belief, Larushka Ivan-Zadeh confirms that Bafta voters do not watch every single film submission. With 221 films officially submitted for consideration this year, she personally viewed 112 titles and expressed doubt that other members have seen them all. "I doubt other voters have watched every single one," she stated, highlighting the practical challenges of the extensive viewing requirements.
The Three-Round Voting System Explained
The Bafta Film Awards voting process is structured into three distinct rounds: longlisting, nominations, and winners. Each round operates under specific rules, with its own set of eligible films and, in some cases, specialist voters. Before casting votes, members receive a randomised group of 15 films to watch, a strategy designed to help smaller budget productions compete against major studio campaigns with substantial marketing resources.
Larushka described the final voting stage as time-consuming, noting it took her a good half an hour to verify how many of the 43 finalists she had seen. Failure to complete this verification could lock voters out of some of the 23 categories. "The reality is that the Bafta Film Awards voting process requires many, many hours of dedication across many months," she emphasised.
Voter Training and Trust in the System
For the 2025/26 Awards season, there are 8,300 Film Awards voters out of a total of 10,000 Bafta members who participate in annual awards recognising achievements in film, games, and television. All qualifying films are made available on Bafta View, the academy's proprietary streaming platform. While organisers can track if voters have clicked play, Larushka admits there is an element of trust, as it is impossible to confirm whether members have watched the full duration of allocated films.
Following a 2020 review, Bafta introduced mandatory "conscious voter" training for all voting members. This initiative aims to help voters navigate and recognise wider societal influences that may impact the voting process, promoting greater awareness and fairness in decision-making.
Ceremony Details and Nominees
The 79th annual Bafta awards ceremony is scheduled for Sunday 22 January at the Royal Festival Hall in London's Southbank Centre. The event will take place earlier than its broadcast time, with celebrities hitting the red carpet on Sunday afternoon. Viewers can tune into Bafta's YouTube channel at 2.30pm to watch arrivals hosted by Clara Amfo and Ali Plumb.
Notable nominations for 2026 include Hamnet, Marty Supreme, and Sinners competing for Best Film, while directors like Yorgos Lanthimos and Chloé Zhao are in contention for Best Director. In the acting categories, stars such as Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Emma Stone have received nominations, reflecting a diverse and high-calibre lineup across all sections.
