It wasn’t a quiet Sunday night at the Royal Festival Hall last night. In general, these ceremonies are pretty boring and predictable, but the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards smashed that script to bits. Between the technical glitches that are currently blowing up social media and some of the most genuine shocks I’ve seen in a decade, it was a proper rollercoaster.
Paul Thomas Anderson was the big winner, obviously. His film One Battle After Another basically sat in the competition. Yet if you study the Baftas 2026 winners list, the names that need our attention aren’t necessarily who you might have thought of. We saw a huge trend toward “performance over fame,” and frankly, it was past time.
The Night Robert Aramayo Became a Household Name
The atmosphere in the room shifted the second they announced the Leading Actor. Most of the “experts” had their money on Leo or Timothée Chalamet. But when Robert Aramayo’s name was read out for I Swear, the place erupted. It’s a hard film to watch; it’s about John Davidson’s life with Tourette’s, and Aramayo didn’t play it safe. He was messy, he was loud, and he was brilliant.
The kid pulled off a double-win, taking home the EE Rising Star award, too. That’s the one the public votes for. It’s scarily rare for someone to win the public vote and the academy vote in the same night. It’s a career-defining moment. As the BBC News Analysis pointed out this morning, we’re looking at the birth of a genuine British superstar. He looked absolutely knackered during his speech, but who wouldn’t be?
PTA’s Six-Mask Landslide
While Robert provided the heart, Paul Thomas Anderson provided the muscle. One Battle After Another ended up with six awards. Best Film, Best Director, and Adapted Screenplay were a total sweep. It’s a big, loud, architectural film. It won for Editing and Cinematography too, which was no surprise to anyone who actually saw it on a big screen.
The weirdest part? Sean Penn won Supporting Actor but didn’t even show up. His co-stars had to go up and collect the mask. It’s always a bit of a letdown when a winner isn’t there to give a speech, but with a film this dominant, I don’t think PTA was too bothered.
This win basically guarantees they’ll be the ones to beat when the Oscars roll around next month.
That Massive “Boong” Upset
Now, if you want to talk about a real shock, look at the Children’s and Family category. Everyone and their mum thought Zootropolis 2 had it in the bag. It’s Disney. It’s huge. But the mask went to a small Indian film called Boong. It’s a Manipuri-language story about a young boy, and it’s beautiful.
It’s one of those wins that makes you actually trust the BAFTA voters for a second. They didn’t just pick the biggest logo; they picked the best story. The Guardian’s live blog coverage was flooded with comments from people who hadn’t even heard of the film until last night. Now, it’s the top-trending search on Netflix.
Gothic Wins and British Grief
Hamnet did exactly what it was expected to do. Jessie Buckley is a force of nature, and her Leading Actress win felt like the most predictable outcome of the night. The movie also picked up Outstanding British Film. It’s a heavy, tear-jerker of a movie, and Buckley’s performance is just… yeah. It stays with you.
Then you’ve got Frankenstein. It didn’t win the big ones, but it absolutely cleaned up the “craft” side. It took home three awards for Production Design, Costume, and Make-Up. It’s visually gross in the best way possible. It’s gothic, it’s gross, and the costume design is magnificent. And it’s good to see the below-the-line talent recognised as well for a film that is clearly a labour of love.
The Standout Stats: Baftas 2026 winners list
| Category | Winner |
| Best Film | One Battle After Another |
| Best Director | Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another) |
| Leading Actor | Robert Aramayo (I Swear) |
| Leading Actress | Jessie Buckley (Hamnet) |
| Supporting Actor | Sean Penn (One Battle After Another) |
| Supporting Actress | Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners) |
| EE Rising Star | Robert Aramayo |
| Special Visual Effects | Avatar: Fire and Ash |
| Casting | I Swear |
| Make-Up & Hair | Frankenstein |
The Questions Everyone Is Asking
How many awards did One Battle After Another win?
It grabbed six. It’s the biggest sweep we’ve seen in years, covering both the major categories and the technical ones.
Was Robert Aramayo expected to win?
Not really. He was the underdog against some massive Hollywood names. Winning both the Rising Star and Leading Actor is nearly unheard of.
What was the biggest shock of the night?
Probably Boong beating Disney’s Zootropolis 2. It’s a massive moment for international, independent cinema.
Where can I see the full list of technical winners?
BAFTA’s official site has the complete list, including the shorts and documentary categories that weren’t included in the main broadcast.
Anyway, the night in spots was a bit of a mess, thank you to that broadcast delay failure, but who was winning itself was tough to argue with. It felt like a year in which the “little” films finally got a seat at the top table.
If you are sitting down to watch a film tonight, forget about the blockbusters for a second, and please find I Swear. It’s a difficult watch, but after catching a glimpse of Aramayo’s face last night, you’ll understand why that gold mask was well earned.
So, what do you think? Did the right people walk away with trophies, or are you still gutted that Leo got snubbed again?
Sources and References
Live Recap: The Guardian’s Full BAFTA 2026 Live Blog
The Official Count: Bafta.org Winners List
The Aftermath: BBC Analysis of the 2026 Awards Season
Deep Dive: India Today on the Avatar and Sinners snubs
