BAFTA Awards 2026: Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” sweeps London ceremony

The race for the 98th Academy Awards shifted into high gear on Sunday night as the 2026 BAFTA Awards took over London, per ew.com. Hosted by the charismatic Alan Cumming, the ceremony acted as a definitive litmus test for Hollywood’s biggest night, with Paul Thomas Anderson’s war epic, One Battle After Another, emerging as the evening’s titan.

Fresh off its 14 nominations, One Battle After Another secured six masks, including Best Film and Best Director. Sean Penn also took home Best Supporting Actor, further solidifying the film’s status as the Oscar frontrunner.

History Made for Coogler and ‘Sinners’

While it trailed slightly behind in the tally, Ryan Coogler’s Sinners made an indelible mark on the history books. Despite entering the night with a record-breaking 16 Oscar nods, it claimed three BAFTAs, most notably Best Original Screenplay. This win marks Coogler as the first Black filmmaker to triumph in this category. Wunmi Mosaku also secured a win for Best Supporting Actress, boosting the film’s momentum ahead of next month’s ceremony.

The British contingent saw significant success with Hamnet. The Shakespearean adaptation won Outstanding British Film, while its lead, Jessie Buckley, was crowned Best Actress.

The night’s biggest breakout, however, was Robert Aramayo. Known to many for The Rings of Power, Aramayo achieved a rare “double” by winning Best Actor for the drama I Swear alongside the fan-voted EE Rising Star Award.

With the BAFTAs and the Academy sharing a significant portion of their voting membership, tonight’s results suggest a dominant path forward for Anderson and Coogler as the awards season crosses the Atlantic.

Full Winners List

Best Film: One Battle After Another

Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another

Best Actor: Robert Aramayo, I Swear

Best Actress: Jessie Buckley, Hamnet

Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn, One Battle After Another

Best Supporting Actress: Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners

Best Adapted Screenplay: One Battle After Another

Best Original Screenplay: Sinners

Outstanding British Film: Hamnet

Best Animated Film: Zootopia 2

Best Film Not in the English Language: Sentimental Value

Best Documentary Film: Mr. Nobody Against Putin

Best Children’s & Family Film: Boong

Best Editing: One Battle After Another

Best Casting: I Swear

Best Cinematography: One Battle After Another

Best Production Design: Frankenstein

Best Sound: F1

Best Special Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash

Best Costume Design: Frankenstein

Best Makeup and Hair: Frankenstein

Best Original Score: Sinners

Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema: Clare Binns

Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer: My Father’s Shadow

Best British Short Animation: Two Black Boys in Paradise

Best British Short Film: This Is Endometriosis

EE Rising Star Award: Robert Aramayo

Fellowship: Donna Langley

 

•Featured image: Leonardo DiCaprio in “One Battle After Another”/Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection