BAFTA widens British film race and sharpens AI rules for 2027 awards
The British Academy has expanded a key longlist, brought casting members into performance voting and set new language on human creative work.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
3 min read
BAFTA is giving more British films a shot at awards-season oxygen, expanding the first-round longlist for Outstanding British Film from 15 titles to 20 for its 2027 film awards.
The British Academy said the category will still end with 10 nominees. Five will be selected through the membership vote, while another five will be chosen by the nominating jury.
Emma Baehr, BAFTA’s executive director of awards and content, told Variety the aim was to broaden consideration and encourage more members to watch and vote on British films. She described Outstanding British Film as BAFTA’s “flagship category.”
Performance voting gets extra eyes
BAFTA is also changing who helps decide the acting races before the final stage. Members of the academy’s casting chapter will now join the acting chapter in voting during the longlisting and nominations rounds for performance categories.
Baehr told Variety the move was intended to add expertise to a busy process. She noted that more than 700 performance contenders are considered across four categories, with those categories closing a week earlier than the rest.
One Oscars-style change is not coming to BAFTA. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences earlier this year adjusted its rules to allow performers to receive multiple nominations in the same category. BAFTA previously allowed that, with Margot Robbie receiving two supporting actress nominations in 2020, but later banned the practice after a major review.
Baehr told Variety that the restriction remains in place because BAFTA wants to keep the performance categories on a level footing.
AI language gets tougher
BAFTA has also updated its rulebook to address generative AI and other digital tools. The academy had already added the phrase “human achievement” last year, and has now expanded the guidance.
The new wording says the awards are presented to recognise people for “outstanding human achievement” in creating, shaping and delivering the final artistic result, regardless of the tools used. It also says BAFTA can ask for more information when generative AI or other digital tools are relevant, including details about the nature of their use and the level of human creative involvement.
Baehr told Variety the new language gives BAFTA room to look more closely if it has questions. Any decision over whether a film fits the rules would be made by the film committee, according to the report.
Asked whether a fully AI-generated film or AI performance could be nominated, Baehr said the BAFTA trophy would be collected by a human.
Conduct policies and key dates
BAFTA is keeping mandatory bullying and harassment measures for its British categories. Production entrants in those categories must declare that they are aligned with standards set by the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority, known as CIISA.
The academy is now asking all submitted productions for information on those policies, though BAFTA says the requirement is not mandatory outside the British categories. The academy said it will monitor the issue with the expectation that it becomes a requirement in future years.
BAFTA also confirmed its timeline for the season. Entries open July 22, and first-round voting begins Dec. 4. Longlists will be published Jan. 7, the same day second-round voting opens. Final nominations are set for Jan. 19, final voting opens Jan. 26, and the BAFTA film awards ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 21.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.