Two films by Irish directors figured prominently in the nominations for this year's BAFTA film awards, the British equivalent of the Oscars, which were announced in London yesterday.
Neil Jordan's film based on the Graham Greene novel, The End of the Affair, received 10 nominations, while six went to East is East, the first feature directed by Damien O'Donnell, who is from Coolock in Dublin.
Both productions are nominated for the major award, best film, along with American Beauty, which led the field with 14 nominations, The Talented Mr Ripley (seven nominations) and The Sixth Sense (four).
Neil Jordan was nominated for best direction and best adapted screenplay for The End of the Affair, and his film received further nominations for best actress (Julianne Moore), actor (Ralph Fiennes), music (Michael Nyman), cinematography (Roger Pratt), production design (Anthony Pratt), costume design (Sandy Powell), and make-up/ hair (Christine Beveridge). The film received two Oscar nominations last month, for best actress and cinematography.
In addition to best film, East is East was nominated for best British film of the year, best actress (Linda Bassett), actor (Om Puri), adapted screenplay, and most promising newcomer (its screenwriter, Ayub Khan Din). One of the most profitable European films of recent years, it was made on a budget of £2.3 million sterling and has taken four times that amount at the British and Irish box-office.
Alan Parker's film of the Frank McCourt bestseller, Angela's Ashes, received three BAFTA nominations: best actress (Emily Watson), cinematography (Michael Seresin) and production design (Geoffrey Kirkland). The lottery comedy, Waking Ned, set in Ireland but shot on the Isle of Man, was given a single nomination, to its director, Kirk Jones, in the most promising newcomer category.
American Beauty took five of its nominations in the four acting categories: best actress (Annette Bening), actor (Kevin Spacey), supporting actor (Wes Bentley) and supporting actress (Mena Suvari and Thora Birch).
The four nominees for best film not in the English language are Tom Tykwer for Run Lola Run, Thomas Vinterberg for Festen, Wim Wenders for The Buena Vista Social Club, and Pedro Almodovar for All About My Mother, which also was nominated for best direction and original screenplay.
The awards will be presented in London on April 9th.