Atonement wins 14 Bafta nominations

The romantic drama Atonement, based on Ian McEwan's novel of the same name, has won 14 nominations for Bafta awards announced in London this morning. As well as being shortlisted for the best film award, stars Keira Knightley and James McAvoy (above) are nominated for best actress and actor and Joe Wright is named in the best director category.

Close behind were two tough American thrillers, No Country for Old Men, based on Cormac McCarthy's award-winning novel, and the period film, There Will Be Blood. Each received nine nominations.

In an announcement containing few surprises, Tim Burton's version of the musical Sweeney Todd won fewer nominations than expected, being shortlisted only for costume design, hair and make-up, but with nothing for lead actor Johnny Depp or Burton himself.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, on February 10, with Jonathan Ross as compere. Because of the difficulties with American award ceremonies caused by the writers' strike, a flood of Hollywood stars is expected, eager to collect awards or just hand them out.

Although Atonement leads the field, it is up against strong competition, in particular its two stars. McAvoy faces Daniel Day Lewis whose towering performance in There Will Be Blood is expected to win him the best actor Oscar later in February, Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises, George Clooney in Michael Clayton and the late Ulrich Muhe in The Lives of Others.

Keira Knightley faces Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Julie Christie in Away From Her, Maron Cotillard as Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose and the young American actress Ellen Page in Juno, which has yet to open in Britain.

Vying with Atonement for the best film award will be American Gangster, The Lives of Others, No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood.
Up against Joe Wright for best director are Paul Greengrass for The Bourne Ultimatum, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck for The Lives of Others, Joel and Ethan Coen for No Country for Old Men and Paul Thomas Anderson for There Will Be Blood.