Baftas 2026: "One Battle After Another" Wins Best Film Amidst Acting Surprises

The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards saw "One Battle After Another" win Best Film. Robert Aramayo's Best Actor win was a surprise, beating out big names.
By Newsroom | Film Awards, Entertainment |

The 2026 British Academy Film Awards concluded with "One Battle After Another" taking home the coveted Best Film award. The ceremony also saw unexpected wins in the acting categories, most notably Robert Aramayo securing Best Actor.

Baftas 2026: One Battle After Another wins best film – follow live! - 1

Event Overview and Key Wins

The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards ceremony celebrated achievements in cinema over the past year. "One Battle After Another" emerged as the dominant film of the night, securing multiple awards, including Best Film and Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson.

Baftas 2026: One Battle After Another wins best film – follow live! - 2

  • Best Film: "One Battle After Another"

  • Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson for "One Battle After Another"

  • Best Leading Actress: Jessie Buckley for "Hamnet"

  • Best Leading Actor: Robert Aramayo for "I Swear"

  • Best Supporting Actress: Wunmi Mosaku for "Sinners"

  • Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn for "One Battle After Another"

Notable Film Performances

"One Battle After Another," an adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's work, was a significant contender, earning six awards. This included Best Film, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Baftas 2026: One Battle After Another wins best film – follow live! - 3

Other films recognized include:

  • "Hamnet": Won for Best Leading Actress (Jessie Buckley) and Outstanding British Film.

  • "I Swear": Robert Aramayo's win for Best Leading Actor was a notable surprise.

  • "Sinners": Secured wins for Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress (Wunmi Mosaku).

  • "Frankenstein": Received multiple awards, including Best Make Up & Hair and Best Production Design.

  • "Sentimental Value": Won Best Film Not in the English Language.

  • "Boong": Awarded Best Children's and Family Film.

Acting Category Surprises

The acting awards presented some unexpected results.

Baftas 2026: One Battle After Another wins best film – follow live! - 4

  • Best Actor: Robert Aramayo's win for "I Swear" was highlighted as a surprise, especially given he triumphed over established names like Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet. His win also included the EE Rising Star Award.

  • Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn's victory for "One Battle After Another" was considered mildly surprising, as Stellan Skarsgård from "Sentimental Value" was a perceived favorite.

  • Best Supporting Actress: Wunmi Mosaku's win for "Sinners" also defied expectations, with Teyana Taylor from "One Battle After Another" having been a strong contender.

Film-Specific Triumphs

One Battle After Another led the pack with six awards. Other films with multiple wins included:

  • "Frankenstein": Three awards.

  • "Sinners": Three awards.

  • "Hamnet": Two awards.

  • "I Swear": Two awards.

Conversely, "Marty Supreme," despite its 11 nominations, did not secure any awards. "Sentimental Value" received one award from eight nominations.

Read More: Wunmi Mosaku Wins Best Supporting Actress at 2026 BAFTAs for "Sinners"

Technical and Craft Awards

Awards were also distributed across technical and craft categories:

  • Adapted Screenplay: "One Battle After Another"

  • Original Screenplay: "Sinners"

  • Production Design: "Frankenstein"

  • Make Up & Hair: "Frankenstein"

  • Special Visual Effects: "Avatar: Fire and Ash"

  • Cinematography: "One Battle After Another"

  • Costume Design: "Frankenstein"

  • Sound: "F1"

  • British Short Film: "This Is Endometriosis"

  • British Short Animation: "Two Black Boys in Paradise"

Concluding Remarks

The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards showcased a strong showing for "One Battle After Another," solidifying its position as a leading film of the year. The results in the acting categories offered an element of unpredictability, highlighting diverse talents and performances.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which film won Best Film at the 2026 BAFTA Awards?
"One Battle After Another" won the Best Film award at the 2026 BAFTA Awards. The film also won Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Q: Who won Best Actor at the 2026 BAFTA Awards?
Robert Aramayo won the Best Actor award for his role in "I Swear" at the 2026 BAFTA Awards. This was seen as a surprise win.
Q: Which actors won awards at the 2026 BAFTA Awards?
Jessie Buckley won Best Leading Actress for "Hamnet," Robert Aramayo won Best Leading Actor for "I Swear," Wunmi Mosaku won Best Supporting Actress for "Sinners," and Sean Penn won Best Supporting Actor for "One Battle After Another."
Q: How many awards did "One Battle After Another" win at the 2026 Baftas?
"One Battle After Another" was the biggest winner at the 2026 BAFTA Awards, taking home a total of six awards. These included Best Film, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Q: Which films were nominated for Best Film at the 2026 Baftas?
The nominees for Best Film at the 2026 BAFTA Awards were "One Battle After Another," "Hamnet," "I Swear," "Sinners," "Frankenstein," and "Sentimental Value."