A still shot from Carol. [Photo/Mtime]

Two American movies, Carol, and Bridge of Spies, topped the nominations in the shortlist for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) annual awards.

Both films picked up nine nominations each, pipping The Revenant on eight nominations and the latest in the Max Max franchise, Mad Max: Fury Road which picked up seven nominations.

Chinese martial arts movie The Assassin, directed by Hou Hsiao-Hsien, is nominated as best film not in the English language and faces competition from four other films.

Last year's best actor winner, British actor Eddie Redmayne, is nominated again this year for The Danish Girl, while his co-star Alicia Vikander is nominated twice: as best actress for The Danish Girl and best supporting actress for Ex Machina. Other best actor nominees are Bryan Cranston (Trumbo), Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant), Mat Damon (The Martian) and Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs).

Competing with Vikander for best actress are Cate Blanchett (Carol), Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn), Brie Larson (Room) and Maggie Smith (The Lady in the Van).

The movies nominated in the best films category are: The Big Short; Bridge of Spies; Carol; The Revenant; Spotlight. The directors of the first four of those films were also nominated in the best director category.

Adam Mckay (The Big Short), Spielberg (Bridge of Spies), Todd Haynes (Carol), Alejandro G. Inarritu (The Revenant) were joined by Ridley Scott for The Martian to complete the nominations.

The awards will be presented at a ceremony at the Royal Opera House in London on Feb 14.