London’s Royal Festival Hall was ablaze with excitement on the evening of February 22, 2026, as the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards unfolded with all the glamour and unpredictability film fans have come to expect. Hosted by the ever-charismatic Alan Cumming, the ceremony promised a celebration of cinematic achievement, and it delivered in spades—complete with historic wins, heartfelt speeches, and a few jaw-dropping surprises.
Leading the charge was Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic adaptation, One Battle After Another, which dominated the night by scooping up six awards out of its 14 nominations. The film, which follows a washed-up revolutionary searching for his missing teenage daughter, claimed the coveted Best Film, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay prizes, as well as Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn. Anderson, visibly moved as he accepted the top honor, declared, “Anybody who says that movies aren’t good any more can piss right off because this is great f****** year.” He went on to quote Nina Simone, saying, “I know what freedom is, it’s no fear.” Anderson urged his fellow filmmakers, “Let’s keep making things without fear, it’s a good idea. See you at the bar.” According to Empire and the Evening Standard, Anderson’s remarks set the tone for a night that celebrated the creative spirit and resilience of the film industry.
But One Battle After Another was not the only film in the spotlight. Ryan Coogler’s Sinners and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein each took home three awards, cementing their places as critical favorites. Coogler’s win was especially significant: he became the first Black filmmaker to win Best Original Screenplay at the BAFTAs, a milestone that did not go unnoticed by the audience or his peers. Sinners also nabbed Best Score, and its star, Wunmi Mosaku, took home Best Supporting Actress. Mosaku, who triumphed in a fiercely competitive category, reflected on her journey: “I found a part of myself in Annie, a part of my hopes, my ancestral power and connection, parts I thought I had lost or tried to dim as an immigrant trying to fit in.” Addressing Coogler, she added, “I felt the presence of the ancestors’ pride and joy daily on your set.”
In a night full of surprises, perhaps the most talked-about was Robert Aramayo’s Best Actor win for his performance in the Tourette’s biopic I Swear. Aramayo, a British star, beat out heavyweights like Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke, and Timothée Chalamet to clinch the title. His speech was a touching tribute to the mentors who shaped his career, particularly Ethan Hawke: “When I was in school, Ethan Hawke came in to speak to us at Juilliard and he gave an amazing talk on longevity as an actor, about protecting your instrument and avoiding self-destructive behaviours, and it had a great impact on everyone in the room. So to be in this category with you tonight is incredible. Thank you Ethan.” As Empire and the Evening Standard reported, Aramayo’s night didn’t end there—he also picked up the public-voted EE Rising Star award, joining an exclusive club of previous winners.
Jessie Buckley’s victory as Best Leading Actress for her role as Anne Hathaway in Hamnet was a moment of pure joy. Buckley, who also saw Hamnet win Outstanding British Film, reminisced about her early days as an aspiring actress: “As a little girl, I never in a million years thought I would get to make a film.” She dedicated her award to the women who inspired her and to her daughter, saying, “It’s the best role of my life being your mum and I promise to continue to be disobedient so you can belong to a world in all your complete wildness as a young woman. I am very grateful for this.”
The technical categories were no less competitive. Frankenstein garnered recognition for Costume Design, Production Design, and Make-Up and Hair, while Avatar: Fire And Ash dazzled with its Best Visual Effects win. F1: The Movie took home the award for Best Sound, with both films earning praise for their innovative craft and immersive storytelling.
The BAFTAs have long been a champion of British talent, and this year’s awards underscored that commitment. Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet was named Outstanding British Film, and the Outstanding British Debut went to Akinola Davies Jr. and Wale Davies for My Father’s Shadow. Robert Aramayo’s EE Rising Star award further highlighted the depth of emerging talent in the UK film industry.
Special honors were bestowed upon industry stalwarts as well. Clare Binns, creative director at Picturehouse Cinemas and Picturehouse Entertainment, received the Outstanding Contribution To British Cinema award, while Universal Pictures chair Dame Donna Langley-Shamshiri was awarded the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship. The Fellowship was presented by none other than the Prince of Wales, who attended the ceremony alongside the Princess of Wales, adding a regal touch to the proceedings.
The evening was not without its poignant moments. The in memoriam segment paid tribute to cinematic legends including Diane Keaton, Terence Stamp, Catherine O’Hara, Rob Reiner, and Robert Duvall, as well as playwright Sir Tom Stoppard, Brigitte Bardot, and Robert Redford. Jessie Ware’s performance of “The Way We Were” provided a fittingly emotional backdrop as the industry remembered its lost icons.
Other notable winners included Sentimental Value, which took home Best Film Not in the English Language, and Zootropolis 2, which was named Best Animated Film. The ceremony also recognized the achievements of F1: The Movie and Avatar: Fire And Ash in the craft categories, underscoring the diverse range of talent and storytelling on display this year.
Host Alan Cumming set the tone for the night with his signature wit, joking, “Watching films this year was like taking part in a collective nervous breakdown.” He noted the emotional intensity of the nominated films and, in a nod to the real-world events influencing filmmakers, suggested, “It would be a good idea if we had one big collective primal scream.”
As the evening drew to a close, it was clear that the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards had lived up to their reputation for surprises, celebration, and the occasional upset. The wins for One Battle After Another, Sinners, and Hamnet reflected not just the critical consensus but also the evolving landscape of cinema, where new voices and diverse stories are finally getting their due. For the filmmakers, actors, and audiences alike, it was a night to remember—a testament to the enduring power of film to move, challenge, and inspire.