BAFTA - EXCITEMENT GROWS BEFORE BAFTAS

EXCITEMENT GROWS BEFORE BAFTAS

Celebrities are expected to turn out in droves to enjoy this year's Baftas.

The British Academy Film and Theatre Awards ceremony is taking place in London's Royal Opera House in Covent Garden this evening.

Although optimism is growing about a resolution to the Hollywood writers' strike, the Oscars is far from being inked in on the events calendar. As a result this year's Bafta is being viewed with unusual attention.

Topping the list is Atonement, which has 14 nominations including the coveted best film prize.

It will be competing with American Gangster, The Lives of Others, There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men for best film. The latter won the backing of the London Film Critics' Circle on Friday evening.

Both No Country and oil prospecting saga There Will Be Blood are positioned to do well, having nine nominations apiece, with expectations especially high on Daniel Day-Lewis for his performance in the latter.

James McAvoy and Keira Knightley are up for best actor and best actress respectively to bolster the British camp.

In the best British film stakes, Atonement is joined by The Bourne Ultimatum, Control, Eastern Promises and This Is England.