BBC Film, the feature filmmaking arm of the BBC, has backed films and talent that have gained a total of 18 Bafta Film Awards nominations, which were announced today.

The nominations include eight for The Power of the Dog, a psychological drama about a domineering but charismatic rancher, including Best Film, Director and Adapted Screenplay for Jane Campion, Leading Actor for Benedict Cumberbatch, and Supporting Actor for both Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee, Cinematography for Ari Wegner, and Original Score for Jonny Greenwood. The Power of the Dog was supported in development by BBC Film, who also backed the production.

Other BBC Film titles nominated are: After Love, about a woman left reeling upon discovering her late husband’s secrets, with four nominations including Outstanding British Film, Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director or Producer for Aleem Khan, who is also nominated in the Director category, and Leading Actress for Joanna Scanlan; Ali & Ava, Clio Barnard’s Bradford-based contemporary love story, receives nominations for Outstanding British Film and Leading Actor for Adeel Akhtar; and Cow, a documentary by Andrea Arnold that records one dairy cow’s reality, is nominated in the Documentary category.

The Power of the Dog’s Kodi Smit-McPhee is one of three performers from BBC Film-backed titles nominated for the Rising Star Award for their recent body of work, alongside Lashana Lynch, star of debbie tucker green’s ear for eye which premiered on the BBC and powerfully examines the experiences of Black UK and US individuals, and Harris Dickinson, who appears in The Souvenir Part II, the sequel to Joanna Hogg’s semi-autobiographical The Souvenir, continuing the story of a film student processing the loss of her lover.

Rose Garnett, Director of BBC Film, says: “We’re so thrilled that the incredible work of talent on BBC Film-backed titles, including The Power of The Dog, After Love, Ali & Ava and Cow, has been recognised by Bafta voters. The breadth of nominations reflect our support for British filmmaking talent at every level, and our international partnerships to help bring outstanding storytelling to audiences in the UK and across the globe. Congratulations to all the nominees and best wishes for the awards ceremony.”

The winners will be announced at the BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday 13 March on BBC One.

The 18 nominations for BBC Film are:

The Power of the Dog - Directed by Jane Campion
Best Film (Jane Campion, Iain Canning, Roger Frappier, Tanya Seghatchian, Emile Sherman)
Director (Jane Campion)
Adapted Screenplay (Jane Campion)
Leading Actor (Benedict Cumberbatch)
Supporting Actor (Jesse Plemons)
Supporting Actor (Kodi Smit-McPhee)
Original Score (Jonny Greenwood)
Cinematography (Ari Wegner)

After Love - Directed by Aleem Khan
Outstanding British Film (Aleem Khan, Matthieu de Braconier)
Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director or Producer (Aleem Khan - Writer/Director)
Director (Aleem Khan)
Leading Actress (Joanna Scanlan)

Ali & Ava - Directed by Clio Barnard
Outstanding British Film (Clio Barnard, Tracy O’Riordan)
Leading Actor (Adeel Akhtar)

COW - Directed by Andrea Arnold
Documentary (Andrea Arnold, Kat Mansoor)

EE Rising Star Award

Harris Dickinson
Lashana Lynch
Kodi Smit-McPhee