Film shown at IFFAM 2017 | ‘The Shape of Water’ leads race for British Academy Awards

Actresses Natalie Dormer (from left) Joanna Lumley and Letitia Wright pose for photographers during a photo call for the BAFTA Academy Film Awards Nominations in London yesterday

Cold War monster movie “The Shape of Water” led nominations yesterday for the British Academy Film Awards, as organizers announced a new female host and promised to fight sexism and sexual misconduct in showbiz.

Guillermo del Toro’s fantastical thriller scored nominations in 12 categories, including best picture and best director, for the U.K. equivalent of the Oscars.

Scorching tragicomedy “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” and Winston Churchill biopic “Darkest Hour” gained nine nominations apiece for the prizes, considered an indicator of likely success at Hollywood’s Academy Awards.

“Three Billboards” writer-director Martin McDonagh said he was thrilled by the positive response to the film and its “strong and outrageous and nuanced” central character, played by Frances McDormand. The story of a mother avenging the rape and murder of her daughter won four trophies at the Golden Globes in Los Angeles on Sunday.

“You never know if a film that is as dark as this, and has as many strange shifts in tone as this, is going to connect,” McDonagh said.

Other multiple nominees include sci-fi sequel “Blade Runner 2049” and World War II drama “Dunkirk,” with eight each. Figure-skating showdown “I, Tonya” is nominated in five categories.

The BAFTA nominations brought good news for two movies snubbed by the Golden Globes: “Dunkirk.” and Jordan Peele’s comedy-horror story “Get Out.” The British academy embraced Christopher Nolan’s visually dazzling war picture with nominations for best film and best director, among other categories. “Get Out” gained nominations for its British star, Daniel Kaluuya, and for original screenplay.

Best-picture nominees are “The Shape of Water,” ‘’Three Billboards,” ‘’Darkest Hour,” ‘’Dunkirk” and lush romance “Call Me By Your Name.”

Best-actress nominees are McDormand for “Three Billboards,” Annette Bening for “Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool,” Margot Robbie for “I, Tonya,” Sally Hawkins for “The Shape of Water” and Saoirse Ronan for “Lady Bird.”

Best-actor contenders are Daniel Day-Lewis for “Phantom Thread,” Gary Oldman for “Darkest Hour,” Kaluuya for “Get Out”, Jamie Bell for “Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool” and Timothee Chalamet for “Call Me By Your Name.”

Supporting-actor nominees include Christopher Plummer for “All the Money in the World.” Plummer was a last-minute replacement for Kevin Spacey, who was cut from the already-completed film following allegations of sexual misconduct.

Nominees for best director are del Toro, McDonagh, Nolan, Denis Villeneuve for “Blade Runner 2049” and Luca Guadagnino for “Call Me By Your Name.”

The BAFTAs differ from their U.S. counterpart in having a separate category for best British film. Nominees are “Three Billboards,” ‘’Darkest Hour,” chilling comedy “The Death of Stalin,” gay rural romance “God’s Own Country,” period drama “Lady Macbeth” and ursine adventure “Paddington 2.”

Winners will be announced at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Feb. 18, two weeks before the Oscars.

The ceremony will be hosted by “Absolutely Fabulous” star Joanna Lumley, who is taking over from longtime master of ceremonies Stephen Fry.

The evening is likely to echo the political tone of the Golden Globes, where many attendees wore black as a statement against sexual misconduct and Oprah Winfrey made a rousing speech calling for change.

BAFTA chair Jane Lush said the British film academy was determined the disturbing recent revelations should be “a watershed moment to be a catalyst for real, lasting change.”Jill Lawless, London, AP