The 79th EE BAFTA Film Awards delivered one of the most thrilling and history-making ceremonies in recent memory, with Paul Thomas Anderson’s political thriller One Battle After Another sweeping the night with six wins — including Best Film and Best Director.
Held on February 22, 2026, at the stunning Royal Festival Hall on London’s Southbank, the BAFTA Film Awards brought together the biggest names in cinema for a night of glamour, surprises, and record-breaking moments. Hosted by fan-favourite The Traitors presenter Alan Cumming, the ceremony was broadcast live on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK, and aired on E! in the United States.
🏆 The Big Winner: One Battle After Another
Paul Thomas Anderson’s gripping political thriller One Battle After Another entered the night as the most-nominated film with 14 nominations — the most in BAFTA history at the longlisting stage. It did not disappoint, walking away with a commanding six BAFTAs, including:
– Best Film
– Best Director – Paul Thomas Anderson (his first BAFTA win in the category)
– Best Adapted Screenplay – Paul Thomas Anderson
– Best Supporting Actor – Sean Penn (his first-ever BAFTA win)
– Best Cinematography – Michael Bauman
– Best Editing
In a memorable acceptance speech, Anderson — visibly moved by a standing ovation — pushed back against critics of modern cinema: “For everyone who says movies aren’t any good anymore — you can p*** right off!” The crowd roared.
Sean Penn’s win was one of the biggest surprises of the night. The veteran actor was not even present at the ceremony, and had been considered an outsider in a stacked category. His win immediately shifted Oscar conversations.
🩸 History Made: Sinners and Ryan Coogler
Ryan Coogler’s vampire horror drama Sinners was the second biggest winner of the night, taking home three BAFTAs and etching its name into the history books:
– Best Original Screenplay – Ryan Coogler (the first Black filmmaker to win in this category)
– Best Supporting Actress – Wunmi Mosaku
– Best Original Score – Ludwig Göransson
Mosaku’s win was met with enormous cheers from the crowd — the Manchester-born actress gave a heartfelt speech that brought the room to its feet. Coogler, in his own speech, offered an inspiring message to writers everywhere: *”When y’all look at that blank page, think of who you love… let that love motivate you.”*
Sinners became the most decorated film by a Black director in BAFTA history — a milestone that marks a significant moment for representation in British cinema’s most prestigious awards.
💚 Frankenstein Rules the Craft Categories
Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein proved that technical mastery has its own glory, winning three BAFTAs in the below-the-line categories:
– Best Costume Design
– Best Make-Up & Hair
– Best Production Design
The film’s visual splendour was undeniable, and its clean sweep of the craft categories cemented its status as one of the year’s most meticulously designed productions.
🌿 Hamnet and the Night of Jessie Buckley
Chloé Zhao’s acclaimed adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel Hamnet had a strong night, winning two BAFTAs:
– Outstanding British Film
– Best Leading Actress – Jessie Buckley
Buckley’s win was warmly celebrated, with the Irish actress delivering a warm and endearingly honest speech — at one point forgetting a fellow nominee’s name mid-sentence, which she laughed off to applause. She is now a frontrunner heading into the Oscars.
Hamnet also made BAFTA history as the most-nominated film ever directed by a woman, with Chloé Zhao’s direction earning widespread critical praise.
😲 The Shock of the Night: Robert Aramayo Beats Timothée Chalamet
Perhaps the biggest gasp-inducing moment of the evening came when Robert Aramayo won Best Leading Actor for his role in I Swear — a dramedy about a Tourette Syndrome campaigner. His win came at the expense of red-hot favourite Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), and was met with audible shock from the star-studded audience.
Aramayo also won the EE Rising Star Award — the only prize voted for by the British public — making him a double winner on the night. I Swear also took home the Best Casting award, giving the film three BAFTAs in total.
The British-Irish actor’s emergence is one of the most exciting stories from awards season 2026.
🎖️ Special Honours
BAFTA Fellowship: Dame Donna Langley, Chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment, was awarded the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship — the highest honour BAFTA bestows — in recognition of her transformative leadership and sustained commitment to inclusion in the film industry. The award was presented by HRH The Prince of Wales.
Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema: Clare Binns, Creative Director of Picturehouse Cinemas, was honoured for her decades of championing diverse and independent cinema across the UK.
Other Notable Winners
| Category | Winner |
|—|—|
| Best Documentary | Mr. Nobody Against Putin |
| Best International Film | Sentimental Value |
| Best Animated Film | Zootropolis 2 (UK title) |
| Best Children’s & Family Film | Boong |
| Best Sound | F1 |
| Best British Short Film | This Is Endometriosis |
| Best British Short Animation | Two Black Boys in Paradise |
| Best British Debut (Screenwriter/Director) | My Father’s Shadow – Akinola Davies Jr. & Wale Davies |
The Bigger Picture: Oscar Implications
With the Academy Awards just around the corner, the 2026 BAFTAs have sent some powerful signals. One Battle After Another is now firmly in pole position for Best Picture and Best Director. The surprise wins for Sean Penn and Robert Aramayo have shaken up the acting race considerably, while Jessie Buckley has consolidated her status as a leading contender for Best Actress.
Ryan Coogler and Sinners continue to make history at every turn — and their BAFTA night only strengthens the film’s Oscar story.
The Ceremony: Moments to Remember
Host Alan Cumming kept the tone light and irreverent throughout, handing out British snacks to Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner in the audience and playfully roasting Paul Mescal for being on his phone during the show.
The evening’s emotional highlight was a moving In Memoriam performance of The Way We Were by Jessie Ware, honouring those in the film industry lost over the past year.
There was also an electric live performance from Huntrix — the singing voices of the Netflix animated musical KPop Demon Hunters — marking their first live performance outside the United States.
One unusual moment came courtesy of Tourette Syndrome campaigner John Davidson, who shouted strong language at winners and presenters from the audience — a moment that drew both laughter and sympathy from the room, and which the BBC carefully managed in its two-hour broadcast edit.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards will be remembered for its record-breaking sweep by One Battle After Another, the historic night for Ryan Coogler and Sinners, and a series of acting surprises that have thoroughly reinvigorated the Oscar race. With the Academy Awards approaching, all eyes will now turn to Hollywood — but tonight belonged entirely to London.
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