From Best Film to Rising Star: Key Moments from BAFTA 2026 Ceremony

The highest honor in British cinema, the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA), saw its biggest winner this year crowned as the dark comedy “One Battle After Another.” The Leonardo DiCaprio–starring film dominated the BAFTAs with six awards.

At the glamorous ceremony held Sunday night local time in Britain, “One Battle After Another” won the two top categories Best Film and Best Director.

For the film, American filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson won the award for Best Director. He also won Best Adapted Screenplay. In addition, the film earned awards for Best Cinematography and Best Editing.

While accepting the award, Anderson said their film used a famous quote by Nina Simone: “I’ll tell you what freedom is to me: no fear!” He added, “We must continue to create fearlessly — that is the most important thing.”

In the Best Film category, “One Battle After Another” beat the emotionally resonant British film “Hamnet” and the vampire thriller “Sinners,” which received nominations in the highest number of categories at the Oscars.

Although it missed out on Best Film, “Sinners” did not return empty-handed. The film’s director Ryan Coogler won Best Original Screenplay. In addition, Wunmi Mosaku won Best Supporting Actress, and the film also secured the award for Best Original Score.

Sean Penn won the Best Supporting Actor award, surpassing fellow nominees including his co-actor Benicio del Toro.

The biggest surprise of this year’s ceremony came in the Best Actor category. Robert Aramayo won Best Actor for his portrayal of Tourette syndrome awareness activist John Davidson in the film “I Swear.” He earned the honor over strong contenders such as Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B. Jordan, Ethan Hawke, and Jesse Plemons.

Earlier, he had also won the Rising Star award. In an emotional voice, Aramayo said, “I truly can’t believe it.”

Jessie Buckley won the Best Actress award for her role as Agnes, the wife of William Shakespeare, in the film “Hamnet.” The film, based on Hamnet, was directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Chloe Zhao.

Although “Hamnet” won the award for Best British Film, it lost in major categories such as Best Film and Best Director.

Among the guests present at the ceremony were Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales. The event was hosted by Alan Cumming.