Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another dominated the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards, winning six prizes including Best Film. The comedy‑drama, led by Leonardo DiCaprio, continued its strong awards season run with victories in Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn, as well as Cinematography and Editing.
Anderson, who had previously won a BAFTA for Licorice Pizza in 2022, celebrated his first Best Director win, telling the audience: “Anybody that says movies aren’t any good anymore can [expletive] right off. Let’s keep making movies without fear.”
Robert Aramayo’s Breakthrough
The night’s biggest surprise came in the Best Actor category. Relative newcomer Robert Aramayo stunned audiences by beating DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, and Jesse Plemons. His portrayal of Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson in I Swear earned him the honor. Aramayo also won the EE Rising Star Award, voted for by the public, making him one of the evening’s double winners.
Jessie Buckley and Wunmi Mosaku Shine
Jessie Buckley continued her awards season momentum, winning Best Actress for Hamnet. The film also took home Outstanding British Film. Wunmi Mosaku won Best Supporting Actress for Sinners, which also earned Ryan Coogler Best Original Screenplay and Ludwig Göransson Best Original Score.
Craft Categories and International Wins
Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein swept the craft categories, winning Costume Design, Make Up & Hair, and Production Design. Sentimental Value became the first Norwegian film to win a BAFTA, while Zootropolis 2 claimed Best Animated Film. Other notable wins included Boong for Children’s & Family Film, Mr Nobody Against Putin for Documentary, and Avatar: Fire and Ash for Special Visual Effects.
Performances and Tributes
The ceremony featured musical highlights, including Jessie Ware’s emotional rendition of The Way We Were during the In Memoriam segment, honoring Catherine O’Hara, Rob Reiner, Brigitte Bardot, Gene Hackman, Val Kilmer, and Robert Redford. EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami also performed Golden from KPop Demon Hunters for the first time outside the U.S. Hosted by Alan Cumming at London’s Royal Festival Hall, the 2026 BAFTAs balanced glamour, surprises, and heartfelt tributes, cementing One Battle After Another as the frontrunner heading into the Oscars.
