‘One Battle After Another’ wins 6 prizes including best picture at Britain’s BAFTA film awards

Politically charged thriller “One Battle After Another” dominated the British Academy Film Awards on Sunday, claiming six major honors including best picture and setting the stage for a potential sweep at next month’s Academy Awards.

The explosive film from director Paul Thomas Anderson chronicles a group of revolutionaries locked in chaotic conflict with the state. In addition to the top prize, it secured wins for directing, adapted screenplay, cinematography, and editing, along with a supporting actor trophy for Sean Penn’s portrayal of an obsessed military officer.

“This is very overwhelming and wonderful,” Anderson said upon accepting the directing prize. The filmmaker paid emotional tribute to his longtime assistant director, Adam Somner, who died of cancer in November 2024 during the early stages of production.

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

While “One Battle After Another” led the evening’s victories, it wasn’t the only film to receive significant recognition at the ceremony held at London’s Royal Festival Hall. Blues-infused vampire epic “Sinners” and gothic horror tale “Frankenstein” each collected three awards, while Shakespearean family drama “Hamnet” won two, including best British film.

Irish actress Jessie Buckley, the bookmakers’ favorite, took home the best actress award for her moving portrayal of Agnes Hathaway, William Shakespeare’s grief-stricken wife, in “Hamnet.” The 36-year-old made history as the first Irish performer to win in this category at the BAFTAs.

In her acceptance speech, Buckley dedicated the award “to the women past, present and future who taught me and continue to teach me how to do it differently.”

The evening’s most surprising moment came in the best actor category, where British performer Robert Aramayo triumphed for his work in “I Swear,” a small-budget British drama based on a true story about an advocate for people with Tourette syndrome. The 33-year-old actor appeared genuinely shocked by his victory over heavyweight contenders Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Timothée Chalamet.

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

“Sinners” earned recognition for Ryan Coogler’s original screenplay, musical score, and Wunmi Mosaku’s supporting actress performance as herbalist and healer Annie. The British-Nigerian actor delivered one of the night’s most profound acceptance speeches, noting that in the role she found “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.”

The awards ceremony attracted an impressive array of Hollywood stars and British celebrities. DiCaprio, Chalamet, Emma Stone, Cillian Murphy, Glenn Close, and Ethan Hawke were among those walking the red carpet before the event, which was hosted by Scottish actor Alan Cumming.

Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, also attended the ceremony, making a public appearance just three days after Prince William’s uncle Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested by police and held for questioning over allegations he sent sensitive government information to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Despite the royal family scandal, William fulfilled his duties as president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts by presenting an award during the ceremony.

The BAFTAs often serve as a reliable indicator for the Oscars, which will be held on March 15 this year. “Sinners” leads the Academy Awards race with a record-breaking 16 nominations, while “One Battle After Another” follows closely with 13.

Other notable BAFTA winners included “Frankenstein,” which received honors for production design, costume design, and hair and makeup. The film’s artists spent an extraordinary 10 hours daily transforming actor Jacob Elordi into the movie’s monstrous creature. Norwegian family drama “Sentimental Value” won the prize for best film not in the English language.

In the documentary category, “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” emerged victorious. The film chronicles a Russian teacher who documented the propaganda imposed on schools following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Director David Borenstein noted during his acceptance speech that the teacher, Pavel Talankin, demonstrated that “whether it’s in Russia or the streets of Minneapolis, we always face a moral choice.”

Host Cumming observed that the nominated films represented a somber reflection of global events, tackling themes such as child death, racism, and political violence. “Watching the films this year was like taking part in a collective nervous breakdown,” he quipped. “It’s almost as though there are events going on in the real world that are influencing filmmakers.”

The Rising Star award, the only BAFTA determined by public vote rather than the academy’s 8,500 industry professionals, also went to Aramayo, capping his extraordinary night. UK-born NBCUniversal Entertainment chairwoman Donna Langley received the British Academy’s highest honor, the BAFTA fellowship, recognizing her significant contributions to the film industry.