SCOTLAND had reasons to be cheerful when the nominations for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards were announced.

While The Favourite garnered much of the conversation with 12 nominations, two rivals for best British movie come from two Scottish directors.

Aberdeenshire-born Jon S Baird's Stan & Ollie, the biographical drama based on the lives of the legendary double act was one of the six that got the nod in the Outstanding British Film Category.

Also in the frame is Glasgow born Lynne Ramsey's You Were Never Really Here, based on the 2013 novella of the same name by Jonathan Ames.

Mary, Queen of Scots, which was shot extensively in Scotland is in the running for three Baftas.

Margot Robbie who is nominated for best supporting actress for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth, who in 1587 ordered the execution of her cousin and rival for the English throne.

Locations for the movie, which is also nominated for costume design and make up and hair, included Edinburgh, East Lothian, Glencoe in the Highlands, Strathdon in Aberdeenshire, near Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park, Seacliff Beach and North Berwick Beach.

It prompted Historic Environment Scotland to revamp its Mary, Queen of Scots trail.

The director of The Favourite paid tribute to the trio of star actresses in the movie which has been nominated for best film and outstanding British film, and its stars Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz have all received nods.

Colman's nomination in the leading actress category for her role as Queen Anne in the dark comedy drama, comes just days after a win in last Sunday’s Golden Globe awards.

It's some way ahead of its nearest Bafta rivals Bohemian Rhapsody, A Star Is Born, First Man and Roma, which have seven nominations each.

Director Yorgos Lanthimos, who has also received a nomination in the director category, said: "Thank you to Bafta for honouring The Favourite and acknowledging the passion and dedication, from so many departments, that went into making our film.

"The Favourite has been many, many years in the making and we, the entire film-making team, are incredibly proud to have received this profound recognition today.

"I'm especially happy for the magnificent triumvirate that is Olivia, Rachel, and Emma, whose immense talent bring our film to life."

The Favourite converted just one of its five nominations in the Golden Globes into a win with controversial road trip drama Green Book the biggest victor, taking best supporting actor, best screenplay and best comedy or musical.

Along with The Favourite, the best film nominees are BlacKkKlansman, Green Book, Roma and A Star Is Born.

Colman's co-stars Weisz and Stone - who vie for the monarch's affections in the film - are both in the running with Robbie for best supporting actress.

Weisz said: "It is a thrill to be nominated alongside this phenomenal group of actresses, including my fantastic co-stars Emma and Olivia.

"It was a complete joy to work alongside them and to be directed by the brilliant Yorgos Lanthimos."

The supporting actor nominees are Adam Driver for BlacKkKlansman, Mahershala Ali for Green Book, Richard E Grant for Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Sam Rockwell for Vice and Timothee Chalamet for Beautiful Boy.

Grant said: "Am absolutely chuffed to bits for my first ever Bafta nomination!

"And most especially for my 'partner in crime' Melissa McCarthy, as well as Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty for their remarkable adapted screenplay nomination."

Colman will compete against Glenn Close for The Wife, Lady Gaga for A Star Is Born, McCarthy for Can You Ever Forgive Me? and Viola Davis for Widows.

Vice star Christian Bale, who also won a Golden Globe at the weekend, has been given a Bafta nod in the leading actor category.

Rami Malek, another Golden Globe winner, has been nominated in the same category for his role in Queen film Bohemian Rhapsody.

They will both battle Bradley Cooper for A Star Is Born, Steve Coogan for Stan and Ollie and Viggo Mortensen for Green Book.

Cooper has received his first Bafta directing nomination for his directorial debut A Star Is Born, and he will compete against Spike Lee for BlacKkKlansman, Pawel Pawlikowski for Cold War and Lanthimos for The Favourite.

Actress Hayley Squires, who helped announce the nominations, said of The Favourite: "After a year of Time's Up and #MeToo and the conversation that was happening so strongly last year, I think it's fantastic that it's a film that's led by three women.

"And also [they're] in roles where they're not necessarily being beautiful, but roles where they get to be quite ugly and vicious and really tear into each other, and into quite a vicious, strong script. I love the fact it's up there with those nominations."

Significant snubs included Steve McQueen, whose follow up to 12 Years a Slave, Widows, scored just one nomination, for leading actress Viola Davis. If Beale Street Could Talk’s Regina King was also omitted, despite being favourite for the best supporting actress Oscar.

Mary Poppins Returns, a sequel to the 1964 original, starring Emily Blunt, missed out in all of the major categories, receiving three nominations in the technical categories - original music, production design and costume design.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again also failed to make an appearance on the shortlists.

The Bafta Film Awards will be hosted by Joanna Lumley and will be held at London's Royal Albert Hall on February 10.