The Bafta film awards are likely to take place earlier in the year in line with the Oscars in 2020, it has been confirmed.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Ampas), which hands out the Oscars, has announced that its ceremony will be held two weeks early, on February 9 instead of February 23.
The Baftas are expected to follow suit to ensure the ceremony still takes place before Hollywood’s biggest awards event.
Change is coming to the #Oscars. Here's what you need to know:
– A new category is being designed around achievement in popular film.– We've set an earlier airdate for 2020: mark your calendars for February 9.– We're planning a more globally accessible, three-hour telecast. pic.twitter.com/oKTwjV1Qv9
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) August 8, 2018
A spokeswoman for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts said: “Ampas made us aware of the decision to move their ceremony earlier in 2020.
“We are now looking at the timeline for the British Academy Film Awards, and will consult with the industry, before announcing our date for 2020.
“Our intention will be to stay ahead of the Oscars, as we have been since 2001.”
The Bafta film awards is the industry’s biggest ceremony outside of the US and attracts a raft of A-list stars.
The Academy has announced a number of changes to its own ceremony, cutting the telecast to three hours for a “more globally accessible” show and adding a new category to reward “achievement in popular film”.