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'Slumdog Millionaire' leads BAFTA nominations
2009-01-15
LONDON (AFP) - "Slumdog Millionaire," the rags-to-riches tale of an Indian game show winner, scooped 11 nominations for the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) on Thursday, days after leading the way at the Golden Globes. The movie is a contender for categories including best film, best director for Danny Boyle, best leading actor for Dev Patel and best supporting actress for Freida Pinto. The BAFTAs are Britain's leading film and television awards and the ceremony will take place on February 8, hosted by television presenter Jonathan Ross. Ross is currently suspended from the BBC after a row over lewd telephone calls to actor Andrew Sachs but his television chat show is due to return next week. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald and starring Cate Blanchett, also received 11 nominations, including best film and best director for David Fincher. Among other leading contenders were "The Dark Knight" -- the latest Batman movie starring the late Heath Ledger as the Joker -- with nine nominations, and "Changeling," directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Angelina Jolie, with eight. Kate Winslet, who made a highly emotional acceptance speech at the Golden Globes after winning two gongs, is nominated twice in the BAFTA leading actress category, for "Revolutionary Road" and "The Reader." "Slumdog Millionaire" won four awards at the Golden Globes earlier this month, leading to predictions of success at next month's Oscars.
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