BBC AMERICA HAS THE EXCLUSIVE U.S. PREMIERE ON THE BRITISH ACADEMY FILM AWARDS

Catch The British Academy Film Awards on BBC AMERICA the same day they air in the UK. Hollywood and Britain's biggest movie stars come together at London's Royal Opera House to honor this year's best in film. And, as in previous years, many BAFTA wins have correctly predicted who walks away with the Academy Award� a few weeks later. The British Academy Film Awards air Sunday, February 21, 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT, followed by two back-to-back encores.

The nominations were announced yesterday with Avatar, An Education and The Hurt Locker leading the pack with eight nominations each. Avatar is fresh off its win for Best Motion Picture, Drama at the Golden Globe� Awards.

District 9 follows closely behind with seven nominations, Inglourious Basterds and Up in the Air have six apiece and Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, Coco Before Chanel, Nowhere Boy and Up each received four nominations.

The nominees for the Orange Rising Star Award, announced earlier this month, are Jesse Eisenberg (Adventureland, Zombieland), Nicholas Hoult (Skins, A Single Man), Carey Mulligan (An Education), Tahar Rahim (Un Prophete) and Kristen Stewart (Twilight Saga). This audience award is voted for by the British public and presented to an actor or actress who has demonstrated exceptional talent and promise.

The BAFTAs are awarded by the British Academy of Film & Arts and for a full list of nominations visit www.bafta.org.

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