Highlights from the 79th BAFTA Awards: A Night of Surprises and Celebrations

On Sunday evening, the 79th BAFTA Awards ceremony took place at the Royal Festival Hall in London, celebrating not only British film but also productions from around the globe. The BAFTAs are known for their prestigious standing in the film industry, traditionally serving as a precursor to the Academy Awards. This year's ceremony was marked by several surprising victories, particularly in the acting categories. The standout award for Best Actor was claimed by Robert Aramayo for his performance in 'I Swear', an independent film based on the life of John Davidson, an activist advocating for the rights of people with Tourette syndrome. At just 33 years old, Aramayo not only nabbed the top honor but also garnered the award for Best Emerging Actor, setting a promising trajectory for his burgeoning career. Conversely, fan favorites Timothée Chalamet for 'Marty Supreme' and Leonardo DiCaprio for 'One Battle After Another' were left empty-handed in this category, highlighting the unpredictability of awards season. The accolades for the night were topped by 'One Battle After Another', which swept six awards, including Best Film and Best Direction for Paul Thomas Anderson, while Sean Penn took home the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in the film. 'Marty Supreme', despite leading the nominations with eleven nods, ultimately failed to win any awards, marking a significant and surprising gap between expectations and reality. Chloé Zhao's 'Hamnet' also had a commendable evening, securing its place as Best British Film and earning Jessie Buckley the award for Best Actress. Other notable films included 'The Sinners', which walked away with three awards, including Best Original Screenplay for Ryan Coogler, and 'Frankenstein', which matched its tally with wins in several technical categories including Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. Here’s the complete list of winners at the 2026 BAFTA Awards: - Best Film: One Battle After Another - Best British Film: Hamnet - Best British Debut: My Fathers Shadow - Best Non-English Language Film: Sentimental Value - Best Documentary: Mr Nobody Against Putin - Best Animated Film: Zootropolis 2 - Best Children’s and Family Film: Boong - Best Direction: Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another - Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler for The Sinners - Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another - Best Actress: Jessie Buckley for Hamnet - Best Actor: Robert Aramayo for I Swear - Best Supporting Actress: Wunmi Mosaku for The Sinners - Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn for One Battle After Another - Best Casting: I Swear - Best Cinematography: One Battle After Another - Best Costume Design: Frankenstein - Best Production Design: Frankenstein - Best Editing: One Battle After Another - Best Makeup and Hair: Frankenstein - Best Original Score: The Sinners - Best Sound: F1 - Best Special and Visual Effects: Avatar Fire and Ash - Best British Short Animation: Two Black Boys in Paradise - Best British Live Action Short: This Is Endometriosis - EE Rising Star Best Debut: Robert Aramayo for I Swear The 79th BAFTA Awards not only honored outstanding talent but also set the stage for the contenders of the upcoming Oscars, reflecting the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of the film industry. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2 • Source 3