Leonardo DiCaprio’s politically charged thriller One Battle After Another has emerged as the frontrunner at the 79th EE BAFTA Film Awards, earning 14 nominations. The film, which also stars Chase Infiniti and Teyana Taylor, dominated across major categories including Best Film, Best Director, and acting nods.
Close Contenders
The vampire-horror Sinners followed closely with 13 nominations, while Shakespeare-inspired drama Hamnet and table-tennis biopic Marty Supreme each secured 11 nominations. Both Timothée Chalamet and Jessie Buckley, considered Oscar frontrunners, repeated their nominations at the BAFTAs. Other notable inclusions were Chase Infiniti and Paul Mescal, who missed out on Oscar recognition but found a place on the BAFTA shortlist.
Spotlight on British Talent
The BAFTAs continue to highlight homegrown talent with categories dedicated to British film and debut works. Titles such as I Swear, Pillion, H is for Hawk, and The Ballad of Wallis Island were recognized. BAFTA chair Sara Putt praised the mix of indie films and global blockbusters, saying, “It is thrilling to see British indie films and debuts in the company of blockbusters that have taken the world by storm.”
Acting Categories
British actors featured prominently across the acting categories. Robert Aramayo and Peter Mullan (I Swear), Carey Mulligan (The Ballad of Wallis Island), and Emily Watson (Hamnet) all earned nominations. Wunmi Mosaku repeated her Oscar nod for Sinners, while Jesse Plemons (Bugonia) and Odessa A’Zion (Marty Supreme) were recognized after missing out at the Oscars.
Other Highlights and Omissions
Wicked: For Good, overlooked at the Oscars, managed two BAFTA nominations in Costume Design and Make-Up & Hair. Brazilian thriller The Secret Agent earned two nods, fewer than its Oscar tally. Frankenstein and Sentimental Value also performed strongly, each securing eight nominations. Brad Pitt’s racing drama F1 picked up three technical nominations but missed out on Best Picture. Meanwhile, Netflix’s viral hit KPop Demon Hunters was ineligible due to its direct-to-streaming release in the UK.
Ceremony Details
Actor and TV presenter Alan Cumming will host the BAFTA Film Awards at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday, February 22, 2026. While several films performed well, none matched the BAFTA record of 16 nominations set by Gandhi in 1982.
