Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another emerged as the undisputed winner at the 79th British Academy Film Awards on Sunday night, taking home six trophies including Best Film and Best Director in a dominant showing that solidifies its standing as a major awards-season force.
Held in London and hosted by The Traitors favorite Alan Cumming, the BAFTAs — one of the most influential precursors to the Academy Awards — saw Anderson’s sweeping political drama convert its industry momentum into concrete wins across top categories and key crafts.
Going into the ceremony with 14 nominations — just two shy of the all-time BAFTA record set by Gandhi — One Battle After Another lived up to expectations. The film claimed:
Best Film
Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
One Battle After Another takes home the Best Film BAFTA 👏 #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/ahNXNBdtA8
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 22, 2026
The haul not only confirmed Anderson’s dominance in the British awards circuit but also reinforced the film’s cross-branch appeal, winning in both above-the-line and technical categories.
Sean Penn’s Supporting Actor win marked one of the night’s early milestones, further boosting the film’s acting credentials. Meanwhile, Michael Bauman’s win in cinematography and Andy Jurgensen’s editing victory highlighted the film’s craft precision — critical indicators as awards season enters its final stretch.
Despite the sweep, One Battle After Another did not dominate every category in which it was nominated. Leonardo DiCaprio, who was up for Leading Actor for his performance in the film, lost in a surprise upset to Robert Aramayo for I Swear. Aramayo also picked up the EE Rising Star Award, creating one of the ceremony’s most talked-about moments.
Robert Aramayo takes the win for Leading Actor in I Swear💫 #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/fdHDmKE600
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 22, 2026
Cumming addressed the audience — which included the Prince and Princess of Wales — after noting the presence of real-life Tourette Syndrome campaigner John Davidson, whose story inspired I Swear. “You may have noticed some strong language in the background,” Cumming explained, asking for understanding and respect.
While Anderson’s film dominated, other major players made significant statements.
Ryan Coogler’s Sinners secured three wins, including Best Original Screenplay, where Coogler made history as the first Black winner in the category. Wunmi Mosaku took Supporting Actress, and Ludwig Göransson won for Original Score. Coogler used his speech to encourage aspiring writers to draw from love and empathy when facing the blank page.
Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet claimed Outstanding British Film, and its leading actress Jessie Buckley won Best Leading Actress, further strengthening her Oscar positioning. Buckley’s acceptance speech provided one of the evening’s lighter moments, as she briefly lost track of her prepared remarks while praising fellow nominees.
In the craft races, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein dominated production categories, winning for Production Design, Make-Up & Hair, and Costume Design. Meanwhile, Avatar: Fire and Ash secured the Special Visual Effects award, and F1 triumphed in Sound.
Notably, Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme, which entered the night with 11 nominations, was shut out entirely — tying the record for most BAFTA losses in a single year.
International cinema was also recognized. Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value won Film Not in the English Language, marking a milestone as the first Norwegian film to win a BAFTA. In the British debut category, My Father’s Shadow emerged victorious.
Beyond competitive awards, the ceremony featured performances by K-pop artists EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, and Jessie Ware delivered a cover of Barbra Streisand’s “The Way We Were” during the In Memoriam segment.
Ultimately, however, the narrative of the night belonged to One Battle After Another. By capturing both Best Film and Best Director — often considered the strongest predictors of Oscar alignment — the film positioned itself firmly at the forefront of the awards conversation.
With six wins across major and technical categories, Anderson’s film did more than collect trophies — it demonstrated broad institutional support across directing, writing, acting and craft branches.
As awards season heads toward the Academy Awards, One Battle After Another leaves BAFTA not merely as a winner, but as the film to beat.
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