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Chloé Zhao's self-discovery drama Nomadland and Sarah Gavron's coming-of-age movie Rocks are the leading contenders for this year's BAFTA Film Awards with seven nominations apiece.

Daniel Kaluuya (Judas and the Black Messiah), Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal), Vanessa Kirby Pieces of a Woman), Alfre Woodard (Clemency), and the late Chadwick Boseman (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) are among the actors celebrating nominations today (March 9).

After being heavily criticized for last year's all-white slate of acting nominations, the BAFTA Film Awards has recognized a much more diverse group of performers this year. Other acting nominees include 18-year-old Bukky Bakray, who is up two awards: Best Leading Actress for Rocks and the EE Rising Star award. Sir Anthony Hopkins (The Father), Wunmi Mosaku (His House), Tahar Rahim (The Mauritanian), Ashley Madekwe (County Lines), and Mads Mikkelsen (Another Round) score acting nominations too.

There is no room, however, for several actors considered award season frontrunners including Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman), Viola Davis (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom), Sacha Baron Cohen (The Trial of the Chicago 7), and Olivia Colman (The Father).

Promising Young Woman, the feature directorial debut from Killing Eve's season two showrunner Emerald Fennell, has picked up six nominations including Best Film and Best Original Screenplay. The Father, Mank, and Minari pick up six nominations apiece, too.

In addition to recognizing a far more diverse group of actors, the BAFTA Film Awards are being praised for nominating four female filmmakers in the Best Director category: Zhao, Gavron, Shannon Murphy (Babyteeth), and Jasmila Žbanić (Quo Vadis, Aida?). BAFTA chair Krishnendu Majumdar told the BBC: "After last year's nominations, we started the BAFTA Review process with the intention of leveling the playing field and introduced a range of measures to ensure that all entered films were seen by our members and judged on merit.

"We hope today you can see some of those changes reflected in the breadth and depth of those nominated and we congratulate all our nominees."

The winners will be announced at a ceremony without a live audience on April 11. The BBC has a full list of nominations here. Congratulations to everyone recognized in this year's list!