Bafta chair Krishnendu Majumdar: We stand firmly with the people of Ukraine

Bafta chair Krishnendu Majumdar will deliver a message from the Ukrainian Film Academy during his speech at the star-studded ceremony as the awards return amid a backdrop of conflict.

Speaking ahead of this year’s 75th British Academy Film Awards – which sees Dune lead the pack with 11 nominations – Majumdar condemned the invasion of Russia, adding that the academy could not “shy away from world events”.

He told the PA news agency: “It’s really important for people to know that Bafta stand firmly and squarely with the people of Ukraine and we condemn the Russian invasion.

“We’ve reached out, we’re in contact with the Ukrainian Film Academy and other film academies across Europe.

“And they spoke to us and they wanted a message to be put out, it’s really important that western journalism continues to have fair and accurate reporting because people need to know the truth.

“Lots of the brave journalists are Bafta members as well, so we applaud them and we want that to continue.”

Majumdar was joined on the star-studded red carpet by the likes of Bafta nominees including Renate Reinsve, who features in the best actress category alongside Lady Gaga and Tessa Thompson.

Norwegian actress Reinsve, who is nominated for The Worst Person In The World, told PA: “Just to be here as a Norwegian and making this small Norwegian movie and that it’s blown up like this, it’s insane.

“You have so many cool productions that are represented here, I’m very proud to be a part of it this year.”

Sci-fi epic Dune and Jane Campion’s western The Power Of The Dog lead the nominations for this year’s film awards, which return in-person after a largely virtual ceremony in 2021.

Majumdar said the academy was so “relieved and excited” to be back at the Royal Albert Hall for the prize ceremony.

Speaking to PA from the red carpet, he added: “It’s so great for people to be together to celebrate film.

“With the pandemic, you don’t know what’s going to happen week to week so there’s been a huge amount of planning.

“The Bafta team have been incredible to put this magnificent event on so it’s just really exciting to be back.”

Lady Gaga, Benedict Cumberbatch and Sir Kenneth Branagh are among the stars in the running to win a Bafta during the ceremony on Sunday.

Bond actress Lashana Lynch and West Side Story star Ariana DeBose also feature as contenders to be named the next star of the future, having been nominated for a Bafta Rising Star award.

Hollywood actress Rebel Wilson is hosting the film awards at the Royal Albert Hall, alongside stars Daniel Kaluuya, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh and Tom Hiddleston who will be presenting at the ceremony.

The evening will also feature entertainment by Dame Shirley Bassey, performing a rendition of a Bond theme song to celebrate 60 years of the spy film franchise, and a video message from the Duke of Cambridge, who is the president of Bafta.

The EE British Academy Film Awards will air on BBC One at 7pm.