American black comedy dominates BAFTA 2026 

One Battle After Another emerged as the big winner of the 2026 BAFTA Awards, sweeping seven trophies including Best Film, cementing its place as this year’s awards-season juggernaut.

The epic drama claimed Best Film and Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson, marking his first BAFTA win for directing. The film also secured Best Adapted Screenplay.

In the acting race, Sean Penn won Best Supporting Actor for his commanding turn in the film — his first BAFTA victory. Meanwhile, Robert Aramayo had a breakthrough night, taking home both Best Actor and the EE Rising Star Award — his first BAFTA wins in both categories.

Among the evening’s other first-time winners were Wunmi Mosaku, who earned Best Supporting Actress for Sinners, and Jessie Buckley, who secured Best Actress for Hamnet, marking her first BAFTA Film Award win.

Beyond the headline categories, One Battle After Another signaled an across-the-board sweep by winning Best Casting, Best Cinematography and Best Editing.

Complete list of BAFTA 2026 winners:

•Best Film

One Battle After Another

•Outstanding British Film

Hamnet

•Outstanding Debut by a British

Writer, Director, or Producer

My Father’s Shadow — Akinola Davies Jr. and Wale Davies

•Best Film Not in the English

Language

Sentimental Value

Best Documentary

Mr. Nobody Against Putin

Best Animated Film

Zootopia 2

Best Director

Paul Thomas Anderson —

One Battle After Another

Best Original Screenplay

Sinners

Best Adapted Screenplay

One Battle After Another

Best Children’s & Family Film

Boong

Best Actress

Jessie Buckley — Hamnet

•Best Actor

Robert Aramayo — I Swear

•Best Supporting Actress

Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners

•Best Supporting Actor

Sean Penn — One Battle After Another

•Best Casting

One Battle After Another

•Best Cinematography

One Battle After Another

•Best Editing

One Battle After Another

•Best Original Score

Sinners

•Best Costume Design

Frankenstein

•Best Make-Up & Hair

Frankenstein

•Best Production Design

Frankenstein

•Best Sound

F1

•Best Special Visual Effects

Avatar: Fire and Ash

•Outstanding British

Contribution to Cinema

Clare Binns

•Best British Short Animation

Two Black Boys in Paradise

•Best British Short Film

This is Endometriosis

•EE Rising Star Award (Voted

for by the Public)

Robert Aramayo