‘One Battle After Another’ Dominates the BAFTA Film Awards with Six Major Wins

Politically charged thriller “One Battle After Another” emerged as the dominant force at the British Academy Film Awards on Sunday, winning six prizes including best picture and building significant momentum ahead of Hollywood’s Academy Awards next month.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s explosive film about a group of revolutionaries in chaotic conflict with the state took home trophies for directing, adapted screenplay, cinematography, and editing, as well as for Sean Penn’s supporting performance as an obsessed military officer.

“This is very overwhelming and wonderful,” Anderson said while accepting the directing prize. He paid tribute to his longtime assistant director, Adam Somner, who died of cancer in November 2024 just weeks into production.

“We have a line from Nina Simone that we used in our film, ‘I know what freedom is: It’s no fear,'” the director added. “Let’s keep making things without fear. It’s a good idea.”

Major Upsets and Historic Wins

In a significant surprise, Robert Aramayo won the best actor category for his performance in “I Swear,” a fact-based British indie drama about a campaigner for people with Tourette syndrome. The 33-year-old British actor looked stunned, calling his victory over Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Timothée Chalamet “absolutely mad.”

“I absolutely can’t believe this,” he said. “Everyone in this category blows me away.”

Bookies’ favorite Jessie Buckley won best actress for playing grieving mother Agnes Hathaway, wife of William Shakespeare, in “Hamnet.” The 36-year-old is the first Irish performer to win a best actress BAFTA, dedicating her award “to the women past, present and future who taught me and continue to teach me how to do it differently.”

Other Major Winners

Blues-steeped vampire epic “Sinners” and gothic horror “Frankenstein” each won three awards. “Sinners” took trophies for director Ryan Coogler’s original screenplay, musical score, and for Wunmi Mosaku’s supporting actress performance as a herbalist and healer.

The British-Nigerian actor said the role helped her find “a part of my hopes, my ancestral power and my connection, parts I thought I had lost or tried to dim as an immigrant trying to fit in.”

“Frankenstein” won for production design, costume design, and for hair and makeup artists who spent 10 hours daily transforming Jacob Elordi into the movie’s monstrous creature.

“Hamnet” won two awards including best British film, while Norwegian family drama “Sentimental Value” took the prize for best film not in English.

Stars and Royalty

Hollywood stars and British celebrities gathered at London’s Royal Festival Hall for the ceremony, with DiCaprio, Chalamet, Emma Stone, Cillian Murphy, Glenn Close, and Ethan Hawke among those walking the red carpet.

Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales also attended, three days after William’s uncle Andrew was arrested over allegations he sent sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein. The scandal has rocked the royal family, though William and Kate remain popular standard-bearers for the monarchy. William presented an award in his role as president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

Among the biggest receptions from gathered fans was for Paddington, the puppet bear who stars in a musical stage adaptation of the beloved children’s classic.

Documentary Winner

The best documentary prize went to “Mr. Nobody Against Putin,” about a Russian teacher who documented the propaganda imposed on Russian schools after the Ukraine invasion. American director David Borenstein said teacher Pavel Talankin had shown that “whether it’s in Russia or the streets of Minneapolis, we always face a moral choice,” referring to protests against US immigration enforcement in Minnesota.

“We need more Mr. Nobodies,” he said.

Oscars Bellwether

The British prizes, officially called the EE BAFTA Film Awards, often provide hints about who will win at Hollywood’s Academy Awards on March 15. “Sinners” has a record 16 Oscar nominations, followed by “One Battle After Another” with 13.

“One Battle” entered the BAFTAs with 14 nominations, while “Sinners” had 13 and “Hamnet” 11. Ping-pong odyssey “Marty Supreme” also had 11 nominations but left empty-handed.

Most BAFTA winners are chosen by 8,500 members of the UK academy of industry professionals. The Rising Star award, decided by public vote, went to Aramayo.

Donna Langley, the UK-born chairwoman of NBCUniversal Entertainment, received the British Academy’s highest honor, the BAFTA fellowship.

Host Alan Cumming captured the mood, noting that nominated films tackled heavy themes including child death, racism, and political violence. “Watching the films this year was like taking part in a collective nervous breakdown,” he said. “It’s almost as though there are events going on in the real world that are influencing filmmakers.”

The ceremony, however, delivered more glitz than gloom—including a performance by Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami singing the movie hit “Golden” from box office juggernaut “KPop Demon Hunters.”

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