The 2026 British Academy Film Awards (Baftas) saw Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" emerge as the night's most celebrated film, taking home six awards, including Best Film and Best Director. Jessie Buckley was honored with Best Actress for her role in "Hamnet," while Robert Aramayo secured a surprise win for Best Actor in "I Swear." The ceremony recognized a diverse range of films and performances, highlighting both established and emerging talents in the industry.
Overview of Key Wins and Nominations
The Baftas 2026, held recently, presented a platform for both acclaimed cinematic achievements and unexpected outcomes. "One Battle After Another," a counterculture comedy, led the nominations with fourteen and ultimately triumphed in multiple categories.
"One Battle After Another" garnered significant attention, securing awards for:
Best Film
Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Jessie Buckley was awarded Best Leading Actress for her performance in "Hamnet."
Robert Aramayo delivered a notable performance in "I Swear," winning the Best Leading Actor award.
"Sinners," a vampire thriller, received three awards, including Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress for Wunmi Mosaku.
"Hamnet" also received the award for Outstanding British Film.
"Sentimental Value" made history as the first Norwegian film to win Best Film Not in the English Language.
"Zootropolis 2" was recognized with the award for Best Animated Film.
"One Battle After Another" Dominates the Ceremony
Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" was a central figure at the 2026 Baftas. The film, which had led the nominations with fourteen, secured six awards. This success includes the prestigious Best Film award, recognizing its overall artistic merit and impact.
Read More: 2026 BAFTAs: Robert Aramayo Wins Best Actor, 'One Battle After Another' Takes Best Film
"One Battle After Another… is out, having emerged Sunday as the big winner of the Baftas, British cinema awards, with six awards, including best film." - Le Figaro
Anderson himself was honored with the Best Director award, marking his second Bafta win. The film's narrative depth was further acknowledged with a win for Best Adapted Screenplay. The technical and artistic contributions were also lauded, with awards for cinematography and editing. Sean Penn's portrayal of a villainous character in the film earned him the Best Supporting Actor award.
Surprise Wins and Acclaimed Performances
While "One Battle After Another" was a prominent winner, the ceremony also witnessed significant individual achievements and unexpected results.
Robert Aramayo's Best Actor Win: The win for Robert Aramayo in "I Swear" for Best Actor was described as a "shock" by several outlets. He surpassed prominent actors like Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet, who were also nominated in the category. His acceptance speech was noted for its emotional depth.
"Robert Aramayo wins BAFTA Rising Star Award. I Swear star Robert Aramayo has won the BAFTA Rising Star award." - Digital Spy
Jessie Buckley's Continued Success: Jessie Buckley continued her awards season momentum by winning Best Leading Actress for "Hamnet." This award recognized her performance in what was also named Outstanding British Film.
"Irish actress Jessie Buckley continued her domination of awards season as she was named best actress for Hamnet." - Evening Standard
Wunmi Mosaku's Recognition: Wunmi Mosaku received the award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Sinners."
Other Notable Film Achievements
Beyond the major award categories, several other films and their contributions were recognized.
"Sinners" by Ryan Coogler was acknowledged for its storytelling, winning awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress.
"Hamnet" not only saw its lead actress Jessie Buckley win but was also honored as Outstanding British Film, underscoring its significance within British cinema.
"Sentimental Value" achieved a historical milestone by being the first Norwegian film to win the award for Best Film Not in the English Language.
"Avatar: Fire And Ash" secured an early win for Best Visual Effects.
"Frankenstein" was noted as a craft heavyweight, winning awards in Costume Design, Makeup and Hair, and Production Design.
Industry Buzz and Academy Awards Outlook
The Baftas often serve as an indicator for the upcoming Academy Awards. "One Battle After Another," having already gathered momentum at earlier award ceremonies like the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, is positioned as a strong contender for the Oscars. The film's comprehensive wins at the Baftas further solidify its perceived advantage heading into the March 15th Academy Awards ceremony. The performance of Robert Aramayo in "I Swear," especially his Best Actor win over established stars, adds an intriguing dynamic to the acting categories.
Read More: Wunmi Mosaku Wins Best Supporting Actress at 2026 BAFTAs for Sinners
Conclusion
The 2026 Bafta Film Awards celebrated a compelling slate of films, with "One Battle After Another" leading the pack with six awards, including Best Film and Best Director. Jessie Buckley's win for Best Actress in "Hamnet" and Robert Aramayo's unexpected Best Actor victory for "I Swear" were among the evening's highlights. The ceremony acknowledged diverse cinematic achievements, from technical excellence to powerful performances, setting a tone for the continued awards season and anticipation for the Academy Awards.
Sources:
BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czx7e100r48o - Reported on key winners including "One Battle After Another," "Hamnet," and "I Swear," and provided context on the film's awards momentum.
The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/feb/22/one-battle-after-another-defeats-hamnet-and-sinners-at-baftas-i-swear-robert-aramayo-best-actor-jessie-buckley-leading-actress - Detailed the wins for "One Battle After Another," "Hamnet," and "Sinners," and highlighted Robert Aramayo's Best Actor award.
BBC News (Live Updates): https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ckgnzzxqj2pt - Provided real-time updates from the Bafta media centre, including details of Robert Aramayo's win and the reactions to it.
BBC News (Red Carpet): https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg3eq3gjeyo - Focused on red carpet appearances and mentioned nominees like Jessie Buckley, highlighting her Best Actress nomination.
The Independent: https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/news/baftas-2026-winners-one-battle-after-another-robert-aramayo-b2925419.html - Covered the dominance of "One Battle After Another," the wins for "Sinners," "Hamnet," and "I Swear," and noted the surprise Best Actor win for Robert Aramayo.
Evening Standard: https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/jessie-buckley-baftas-british-ethan-hawke-london-b1272047.html - Reported on "One Battle After Another's" sweep, "Hamnet's" and "I Swear's" triumphs, and Jessie Buckley's Best Actress award.
Sky News: https://news.sky.com/story/baftas-2026-latest-updates-hollywood-stars-prepare-for-uks-biggest-night-in-film-with-one-battle-after-another-leading-nominations-13508649 - Provided live updates, confirming Jessie Buckley's win for "Hamnet" and detailing her acceptance speech.
Metro: https://metro.co.uk/2026/02/22/robert-aramayo-pulls-off-major-baftas-shock-emotional-best-actor-win-27051240/ - Focused on Robert Aramayo's surprising Best Actor win and provided a list of other major Bafta winners.
Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-15577155/bafta-film-awards-sinners-hamnet-red-carpet-live-updates.html - Covered "One Battle After Another's" Best Film win and other key awards, including those for "I Swear" and "Hamnet."
Digital Spy: https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a70432316/bafta-2026-winners-list/ - Offered a comprehensive list of all Bafta 2026 winners, confirming the major wins for "One Battle After Another," "Hamnet," and "I Swear."
The Guardian (Analysis): https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/feb/22/robert-aramayo-baftas-feelgood-moment-night-belonged-to-paul-thomas-anderson - Provided an analytical perspective on the night, highlighting Aramayo's moment and Anderson's overall success.
Empire Online: https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/2026-bafta-award-winners-full-list/ - Presented a full list of Bafta 2026 winners, confirming the top awards and recognizing "One Battle After Another's" dominance.
TF1 Info (French): https://www.tf1info.fr/culture/royaume-uni-bafta-resultats-palmares-complet-chalamet-marty-supreme-une-bataille-apres-l-autre-anderson-sinners-i-swear-et-une-apparition-de-kate-et-william-2426286.html - Reported on "One Battle After Another's" triumph at the Baftas in French, detailing the main awards and surprise wins.
Le Figaro (French): https://www.lefigaro.fr/cinema/cinema-decouvrez-le-palmares-complet-des-bafta-2026-20260222 - Provided a complete list of the Bafta 2026 winners in French, emphasizing "One Battle After Another's" success.
Sunday Guardian Live: https://sundayguardianlive.com/entertainment-news/bafta-2026-robert-aramayo-beats-timothe-chalamet-to-win-best-actor-jessie-buckley-crowned-best-actress-for-hamnet-171846/ - Focused on the Best Actor and Best Actress wins for Robert Aramayo and Jessie Buckley, respectively.
