LONDON — The British Academy Film Awards crowned One Battle After Another best film and gave director honors to Paul Thomas Anderson, leading the night with six wins at the 79th BAFTAs.
Hosted by Alan Cumming at London’s Royal Festival Hall, the ceremony landed two weeks before the Oscars, giving the awards a late-season indicator of momentum for the race.
Key wins and surprises
The biggest shock was Robert Aramayo winning best actor for I Swear, beating Timothee Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio; he also collected the EE Rising Star award, a turn that stunned the room.
Wunmi Mosaku earned supporting actress for Sinners, while Ryan Coogler’s film won original screenplay and Ludwig Goransson took original score.
British honors and craft categories
Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet won outstanding British film and Jessie Buckley took leading actress.
Craft prizes went to Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein in make-up and hair, production design, and costume design, while Avatar: Fire and Ash won visual effects and Boong took children’s and family film.
Oscars implications
The BAFTAs are a key bellwether with the next SAG/Actor Awards show coming next Sunday, ahead of the Oscars on March 15, according to CNN’s timeline.
One Battle After Another led nominations with 14, and the film’s top haul reinforced Paul Thomas Anderson’s late-season surge.
With the full winners list now set, studios and campaigns pivot to the Academy’s final stretch.
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