Why did Heath not win the BAFTA?

Rating: 10/10 (22 February 2006)

Am I the only person who thinks that Phillip Seymour Hoffman winning Best Actor at the BAFTAS was slightly unfair? I'm sure his performance in Capote is amazing, but the fact that the film hasn't even been released here and hasn't been seen by the British public makes the award completely unjust. I don't know what the rules are for judging the BAFTAS, but to me a film that no one here has seen should not be eligible. Or am I just been biased because I think Heath Ledger gave the best performance anyone could possibly give? I feel that the recent awards have given BBM the statues for Best Film and Best Director, which is great, but are missing who the real star is - Heath Ledger. It is his character's story and his haunting and powerful performance that make this film what it is. If the upcoming Oscars fail to reward him for that, then they have completely missed the point of the whole film.