'Bridge of Spies' lead 2016 BAFTA Awards nominations

Lesbian romance drama "Carol" and Tom Hanks-starrer historical thriller "Bridge of Spies" today led the 68th BAFTA Awards nominations with nine nods apiece including the best film.

"Carol", which also topped this year's Golden Globes nominations, has secured other nods in categories like best actress for Cate Blanchett, Todd Hynes for best director, best supporting actress for Rooney Mara and Phyllis Nagy for the adapted screenplay."Carol" is based on the novel "The Price of Salt" by Patricia Highsmith.

The other frontrunner "Bridge of Spies" has its helmer Steven Spielberg nominated in the best director category.

Its other nods are in best supporting actor category for Mark Rylance, original screenplay for Matthew Charman, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, music, cinematography, editing, production design and sound.

"The Revenant" comes second with eight nods including the best film, best actor for Leonardo DiCaprio, best director for Alejandro G Inarritu.

Also nominated in the best movie category are "Spotlight" and "The Big Short", which secured four other nods.

The best director category also includes Adam McKay ('The Big Short') and Ridley Scott ('The Martian').

DiCaprio will fight it out with 2015 Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne ('The Danish



Girl'), Michael Fassbender ('Steve Jobs'), Matt Damon ('The Martian') and Bryan Cranston ('Trumbo').

Besides Blanchett, nominations for the best actress include Brie Larson ('Room'), Alicia Vikander ('The Danish Girl'), Saoirse Ronan ('Brooklyn') and Maggie Smith ('Lady in the Van').

Best supporting actor nominations include Benicio Del Toro ('Sicario'), Christian Bale ('The Big Short'), Idris Elba ('Beasts of No Nation') and Mark Ruffalo ('Spotlight').

Movies nominated for the outstanding British film award are "45 Years", "Amy", "Brooklyn", "The Danish Girl", "Ex Machina" and "The Lobster".

"Amy" is also nominated in the best documentary category, whose other contenders are "Cartel Land", "He named me Malala" "Listen to me Marlon" and "Sherpa".

"Mad Max: Fury Road" landed seven nominations though in all the technical categories.

"Inside Out", "Minions" and "Shaun the Sheep" form the nominations for the best animated film award.

The list of nominees contained a few surprises. "Suffragette" and "Spectre", both highly-successful – and quintessentially British movies - were both entirely ignored, failing to land a single nomination between them.

The awards ceremony will take place on February 14, with Stephen Fry hosting.