The first round of voting by BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) has been completed, and the "longlists" of 15 contenders in each category announced. Five nominees will be selected from the longlists in the second round of voting, which closes on January 12.

According to Variety, "Memoirs of a Geisha" received the most nominations (15) in the first round! Included on the longlists are: Ziyi (Best Actress), Li and Michelle (Supporting Actress), Ken (Supporting Actor), and Rob (Director). [Note: I got some of the contenders from a BAFTA member; the Variety report doesn't list them.]

BEST ACTRESS
Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener)
Maria Bello (A History of Violence)
Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda)
Toni Collette (In Her Shoes)
Naomi Watts (King Kong)
Emma Thompson (Nanny McPhee)
Charlize Theron (North Country)
Scarlet Johansson (Match Point)
Miranda July (Me and You and Everyone We Know)
Ziyi Zhang (Memoirs of a Geisha)
Judi Dench (Mrs. Henderson Presents)
Keira Knightley (Pride and Prejudice)
Gwyneth Paltrow (Proof)
Felicity Huffman (Transamerica)
Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line)

MOAG rec'd noms for: Picture, Director, Actress, Supporting Actress (2), Supporting Actor, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Music, Production Design, Costume Design, Sound, Make-up/Hair, Special Visual Effects.

Variety Report (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117935587?categoryid=19&cs=1&s=h&p=0)

Good luck to the MOAG team in the next round of voting!

more interesting.

The British film committee seem to have fewer prejudices and evaluate more on face value. MOAG probably is a good film mired in all sorts of prejudice and odd notion. I have the feeling any Asian film by a non-Asian director can’t get a fair shake over here or in Asia.

Funny how that works.

haha another congrats to Z! This is getting old... just kinda.:D

Wow...I can't wait until the winners are announced...I just hope the oscar noms follow suit...This is more like it:clap: