The 79th edition of the BAFTA Awards delivered a night of major surprises, historic wins, and emotional speeches as the British Academy of Film and Television Arts honored the best films of the past year at London’s Royal Festival Hall. Hosted by Alan Cumming, the ceremony blended classic British elegance with high-energy celebration of global cinema.
The political drama One Battle After Another emerged as the biggest winner of the night, securing six trophies including Best Film and Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson. The film also claimed awards for Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Editing, and Supporting Actor, cementing its status as this year’s dominant awards-season contender.
In acting categories, Robert Aramayo won Best Actor for his performance in I Swear, while Jessie Buckley took Best Actress for Hamnet, which also earned Outstanding British Film. The wins marked career milestones for both performers and drew standing ovations from the audience.
Several other films shared the spotlight. Sinners earned three awards including Original Screenplay, while Frankenstein dominated technical categories such as Production Design, Costume Design, and Make-Up & Hair. In international cinema, Sentimental Value won Best Film Not in the English Language, and animated feature Zootropolis 2 secured Best Animated Film.
One of the evening’s most celebrated moments came when Indian film Boong won Best Children’s & Family Film, marking a landmark achievement for regional Indian cinema on a major global stage.
Special honors were also presented, with Donna Langley receiving the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship for her contributions to the film industry, and Clare Binns awarded Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema.
Beyond the trophies, the ceremony featured memorable red-carpet fashion, emotional acceptance speeches, and tributes to filmmakers worldwide. With several winners now considered strong contenders for the upcoming Oscars, this year’s BAFTA results have reshaped predictions for the remainder of awards season.
In short: the 2026 ceremony highlighted a growing global diversity in filmmaking while confirming that bold storytelling and powerful performances continue to define modern cinema.
