“La La Land” leads race for British Academy Film Awards

LONDON — The perky, pastel-hued jazz musical “La La Land” leads the race for the British Academy Film Awards, the U.K. equivalent of the Oscars.

“La La Land” is nominated in 11 categories including best picture, considered a strong indicator of likely success at Hollywood’s Academy Awards.

Philosophical sci-fi yarn “Arrival” and wrenching drama “Nocturnal Animals” have nine nominations each.

Best-picture nominees are “La La Land,” ”Arrival,” ”I, Daniel Blake,” ”Moonlight” and “Manchester by the Sea.”