One Battle After Another Wins Best Film at 2026 BAFTAs
2026 BAFTA winners list
Paul Thomas Anderson’s counterculture comedy One Battle After Another emerged as the primary victor at the 79th British Academy Film Awards on Sunday evening. The production secured six major trophies including the prestigious award for Best Film during the ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall. Anderson received the honors for both Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for his work on the expansive narrative. The film further demonstrated its technical excellence by claiming victories in the cinematography, editing, and supporting actor categories. Veteran actor Sean Penn was recognized as the Best Supporting Actor for his role in the project, though he was not present to accept the award in person. This sweep follows a busy month of international updates including the major arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and the deadly California avalanche recovery efforts.+4
The acting categories provided some of the most emotional moments of the night as Robert Aramayo achieved a rare double victory for his performance in the biopic I Swear. Aramayo first secured the public-voted EE Rising Star Award before returning to the stage to accept the trophy for Best Leading Actor. His win was considered a significant upset over heavy favorites such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet. Meanwhile, Jessie Buckley made history as the first Irish woman to win the Best Leading Actress award for her portrayal of a grieving mother in the period drama Hamnet. The film, directed by Chloé Zhao, was also honored as the Outstanding British Film of the year. This celebration of artistry comes at a time of significant transition in the entertainment industry following the sudden closure of Bluepoint Games and the hiatus of Katseye member Manon.+2
Ryan Coogler’s vampire thriller Sinners maintained a strong presence throughout the evening by capturing three awards. Coogler became the first Black filmmaker to win the Best Original Screenplay category while composer Ludwig Göransson took home the prize for Best Original Score. Wunmi Mosaku rounded out the film’s success by winning Best Supporting Actress for her role as a supernatural healer. Technical categories were largely dominated by Frankenstein, which swept the awards for production design, costume design, and hair and makeup. In the animation sector, Disney’s Zootropolis 2 was named the Best Animated Film, continuing the success of the popular franchise just as fans prepare for Kristen Bell’s entry into the Sonic universe.+2
The international community was well represented as the Norwegian drama Sentimental Value won the trophy for Best Film Not in the English Language. The documentary category recognized Mr. Nobody Against Putin, a film detailing the courage of a Russian teacher facing political pressure. Other notable wins included the Indian film Boong for Best Children’s and Family Film and the sports drama F1 for Best Sound. During the final moments of the broadcast, industry leaders honored Clare Binns for her outstanding contribution to cinema and presented the BAFTA Fellowship to NBCUniversal chairperson Donna Langley. Fans looking to compare these results with current professional standings can review our latest report on the NBA or follow the Olympic hockey results from Milan. Official highlights and a complete breakdown of the nomination voting process are available through the academy’s digital archives as the focus shifts toward the upcoming Academy Awards.
