‘One Battle After Another’ Triumphs at the 2026 BAFTAs
Paul Thomas Anderson’s dark comedy One Battle After Another dominated the 2026 British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs), securing six wins, including Best Film and Best Director. The ceremony, held at the Royal Festival Hall in London, also saw surprise victories for Robert Aramayo and Sean Penn.
Key Wins and Highlights
One Battle After Another, a film about a revolutionary searching for his missing daughter, earned accolades for Best Film, Best Director (Paul Thomas Anderson), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Supporting Actor (Sean Penn). Penn’s win was particularly notable as he was not in attendance and considered an underdog in the category.
Ryan Coogler’s Sinners also garnered significant recognition, winning three awards: Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Supporting Actress for Wunmi Mosaku. Mosaku’s win was met with enthusiastic applause, marking a significant moment for the British-Nigerian actress.
Surprise Victories and Notable Moments
Robert Aramayo delivered a stunning upset, winning both the Leading Actor award and the EE Rising Star Award for his performance in I Swear, a film about a man with Tourette’s syndrome. He defeated highly-regarded actors including Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, and Ethan Hawke. Aramayo acknowledged Hawke during his acceptance speech.
Jessie Buckley was named Best Actress for her role in Hamnet, continuing her successful run during awards season.
Craft and Technical Achievements
Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein excelled in the craft categories, winning awards for Create Up & Hair, Production Design, and Costume Design. Avatar: Fire and Ash took home the award for Special Visual Effects. Akinola Davies Jr.’s My Father’s Shadow won the award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer, and Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet was recognized as Outstanding British Film.
Full List of Winners
- Best Film: One Battle After Another
- Leading Actress: Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
- Leading Actor & EE Rising Star: Robert Aramayo, I Swear
- Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
- BAFTA Fellowship Award: Donna Langley
- Outstanding British Film: Hamnet
- Film Not in the English Language: Sentimental Value
- Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
- Original Score: Ludwig Göransson, Sinners
- Cinematography: Michael Bauman, One Battle After Another
- Animated Film: Zootropolis 2
- Casting: Lauren Evans, I Swear
- Editing: Andy Jurgensen, One Battle After Another
- Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema: Clare Binns, Creative Director of Picturehouse Cinemas
- Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer: Akinola Davies Jr, Wale Davies, My Father’s Shadow
- British Short Animation: Two Black Boys in Paradise
- Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler, Sinners
- British Short Film: This Is Endometriosis
- Documentary: Mr Nobody Against Putin
- Costume Design: Kate Hawley, Frankenstein
- Production Design: Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau, Frankenstein
- Sound: Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A Rizzo, Juan Peralta, F1
- Make Up & Hair: Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey, Mike Hill, Megan Many, Frankenstein
- Children’s & Family Film: Boong
- Supporting Actor: Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
- Supporting Actress: Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
- Special Visual Effects: Richard Baneham, Daniel Barrett, Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, Avatar: Fire and Ash
Paul Thomas Anderson dedicated his Best Director prize to the late producer Adam Somner, praising his influence and mentorship.