Manny Ita –
The 2026 EE British Academy Film Awards were dominated by Paul Thomas Anderson’s drama “One Battle After Another,” which emerged as the biggest winner of the night, securing top honours including Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Adapted Screenplay.
The film’s sweeping victory positioned it as the standout production of the ceremony, held in London and hosted by Scottish actor Alan Cumming, with leading figures from the global film industry in attendance.
In the acting categories, Robert Aramayo delivered one of the night’s major surprises, winning Best Actor for his role in “I Swear.” He also claimed the Rising Star Award, further cementing his breakthrough status. Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for her performance in “Hamnet,” which also took the prize for Outstanding British Film.
Sean Penn secured the Best Supporting Actor award for portraying Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw in “One Battle After Another,” adding to the film’s dominance across categories. Wunmi Mosaku won Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Sinners,” which also earned recognition for Best Original Screenplay and Best Original Score.
The award for Best Film Not in the English Language went to the Norwegian drama “Sentimental Value,” beating several international contenders and highlighting the ceremony’s global scope.
In animation, “Zootropolis 2” claimed the BAFTA for Best Animated Film, while technical categories saw additional recognition spread across major productions, including multiple awards for “Frankenstein.”
The ceremony once again underscored BAFTA’s role as one of the most influential nights in cinema, often seen as a bellwether for the Academy Awards. Royal attendees and international stars added prestige to the event, which celebrated both artistic excellence and technical achievement across the film industry.
