London’s Royal Festival Hall was abuzz on February 22, 2026, as the 79th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) unfolded in a night that celebrated cinematic achievement, spotlighted new talent, and even saw a few unexpected twists. Hosted for the first time by Scottish actor Alan Cumming, the ceremony brought together a glittering array of Hollywood royalty, British stars, and even the beloved Paddington Bear, all under one roof for a night that proved as dramatic as the films it honored.
The evening’s biggest winner was Paul Thomas Anderson’s politically charged thriller One Battle After Another, which swept six major categories, including Best Film, Best Director, and Adapted Screenplay for Anderson himself. The film’s accolades didn’t stop there—Sean Penn took home Best Supporting Actor, while the movie also claimed prizes for Best Editing and Best Cinematography. According to AwardsWatch, the film led the pack with 14 nominations, and its dominance at the BAFTAs is being seen as a strong indicator for the upcoming Oscars.
Anderson, visibly moved as he accepted the directing prize, remarked, “This is very overwhelming and wonderful.” His film, centered on a group of revolutionaries clashing with the state, captured the zeitgeist of a year where, as Cumming quipped, “Watching the films this year was like taking part in a collective nervous breakdown. It’s almost as though there are events going on in the real world that are influencing filmmakers.”
Close on One Battle After Another’s heels was Ryan Coogler’s horror hit Sinners, which made BAFTA history with 13 nominations—the most ever for a film by a Black director. The film walked away with three awards: Original Screenplay for Coogler, Score, and Supporting Actress for Wunmi Mosaku. As BBC noted, these wins build on the film’s momentum ahead of the Oscars, where it leads with a record 16 nominations.
Another headline-grabbing moment came when Robert Aramayo triumphed in the Best Actor category for his role in the British indie film I Swear. Not only did he beat out heavyweights like Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet, but his win marked the first time in 25 years that BAFTA awarded Best Actor to someone who wasn’t even nominated for an Oscar—a feat last achieved by Jamie Bell for Billy Elliot in 2000. Aramayo’s night didn’t end there: he also snagged the BAFTA Rising Star Award, a public-voted honor that cements his status as one of Britain’s most exciting new talents.
Jessie Buckley added another jewel to her crown, winning Best Actress for her portrayal of Agnes Hathaway, the grieving wife of William Shakespeare, in Hamnet. Her victory was historic—she is the first Irish actress ever to win a BAFTA. Hamnet also took home the award for Best British Film, underscoring the strength of homegrown talent in a year dominated by international heavyweights.
While some films soared, others stumbled. Marty Supreme, which had been tipped as a potential favorite with 11 nominations, left the ceremony empty-handed, tying the record for the most BAFTA losses—a distinction shared with Women in Love (1969) and Finding Neverland (2004). Meanwhile, Guillermo del Toro’s reimagining of Frankenstein won three technical awards: Production Design, Costume Design, and the painstaking work of Hair and Makeup, which reportedly required 10 hours a day to transform Jacob Elordi into the film’s monstrous lead.
In the international categories, Sentimental Value made history by becoming the first Norwegian film to win a BAFTA, taking the prize for Best Film Not in the English Language. The documentary category saw Mr. Nobody Against Putin honored for its courageous look at Russian school propaganda post-Ukraine invasion. Director David Borenstein used his acceptance speech to highlight the importance of moral choices, saying, “We need more Mr. Nobodies,” a sentiment that resonated in a room filled with artists who often use their platforms for advocacy.
The BAFTAs are always as much about the spectacle as the awards, and this year’s ceremony didn’t disappoint. The event was graced by Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, just days after a royal scandal involving William’s uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was arrested on allegations of sharing sensitive government information with the late Jeffrey Epstein. Despite the controversy, William, as president of BAFTA, took the stage to present the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship to Dame Donna Langley. Langley was recognized for her transformative leadership and commitment to diversity and inclusion in the film industry.
Clare Binns, Creative Director of Picturehouse Cinemas, received the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award, lauded for her work championing independent and diverse voices in British film. The ceremony also paid tribute to the year’s departed with a moving performance of “The Way We Were” by Jessie Ware during the In Memoriam segment.
Adding to the night’s entertainment was a show-stopping performance of “Golden” from the animated musical Kpop Demon Hunters, sung by Jae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami. The film, though ineligible for the BAFTA animation award due to its lack of a UK theatrical run, has already swept the Grammys, Golden Globes, and Annies, underscoring the increasingly global nature of film recognition.
Other notable winners included My Father’s Shadow for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer, and a variety of technical and short film categories that highlighted the depth and diversity of talent in the industry.
As the curtain fell on the 79th BAFTA Film Awards, the night’s results set the stage for what promises to be a fiercely competitive Oscar season. With One Battle After Another and Sinners leading the charge, and a host of fresh faces breaking through, the world of cinema is bracing for yet another round of surprises.
In a year marked by both turmoil and triumph, the BAFTAs offered a timely reminder of cinema’s power to reflect, challenge, and unite—a night where the industry celebrated not just its stars, but the stories that move us all.