Cillian Murphy in Steve [Netflix]

THE splendid navel-gazing the film industry loves to indulge in kicks off at the start of each year: our nation’s film awards, the Baftas, are squeezed in between the big Stateside gongs, the  Golden Globes and then the big one: the Oscars, in March.

On February 22, the cream of the British film world will gather at the Royal Festival Hall, prepped to make tear-jerking speeches in case they scoop one of the Golden Masks.

Possibly the most interesting category is the Outstanding British Film section, and the mix on offer ranges from the next instalment of the outstanding UK Zombie franchise 28 Years Later to the comfort rom-com of Bridget Jones, some thespian-indulging period stuff with Mr Burton and a tale of William Shakespeare, in Hamnet.

It shows what our film industry seeks to achieve and reflects the interests of our times.

Contenders include I Swear, which tells the story of John  Davidson, a Glaswegian who has tourettes. The film reveals truths about his life – and prompts the viewer to realise that raising awareness of the condition is vital to help people who have it.

Pillion, starring Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård, explores a BDSM relationship between two men living in Kent. Melling plays Colin, a quiet, introverted man who lives with his parents, issues parking tickets for a living and sings in a barber shop quartet. He meets Ray, a good-looking biker and the pair embark on a relationship. It has been praised for taking an unconventional topic and finding heart, warmth, laughter and drama: an outsider for the prize but a brilliant example of contemporary UK film.

The Bone Yard – the subtitle to the third 28 Years Later film – is technically good, squeamishly unpleasant, and has Ralph Fiennes mesmerising, though he missed out on a Best Actor nomination. Perhaps we are used to him turning in such performances. Cillian Murphy, who starred in the first “28”, appears at the very end.

Murphy also appears in the drama, Steve, where he plays the headteacher at a school for children with behavioural challenges, is also up for the award.

This outstanding school-based drama has Murphy as the stressed-out head, hiding his own addiction issues as he battles to keep order and hopefully impart some wisdom and knowledge during a school day. Tracey Ullman plays his deputy while Emily Watson also stars in a well-paced adaptation of Max Porter’s story Shy.