Paul Thomas Anderson's counterculture comedy One Battle After Another dominated the Baftas on Sunday, winning six awards including best film, best director, best cinematography, best editing, best supporting actor and best adapted screenplay. The film, inspired by Thomas Pynchon's Vineland, was nominated for 14 awards, the most of any contender, and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Chase Infiniti and Teyana Taylor.
Accepting the best director award, Anderson paid tribute to the late producer Adam Somner, who died in 2024. 'Three weeks into our film he found out he was sick, and he made it through production,' Anderson said. 'If you've ever worked with somebody who is very ill, it is very miraculous, it makes you pay attention and it reminds you of the privilege of this work we do.'
Ryan Coogler's vampire thriller Sinners took home three awards: best original screenplay, best original score and best supporting actress for Wunmi Mosaku. Coogler, the first Black winner in the best original screenplay category, said: 'For all the writers staring at a blank page, think of who you love, think of someone you see in pain and help them feel better.'
Hamnet, Chloé Zhao's adaptation of the Maggie O'Farrell novel, won outstanding British film and leading actress for Jessie Buckley, who became the first Irish performer to win a leading actress Bafta. Buckley praised Zhao's 'uncompromising artistry' and dedicated the award to her daughter, promising to 'continue to be disobedient' so her child can 'belong to a world in all your mad, complex, wildness as a young woman.'
In a major upset, Robert Aramayo won best actor for his role in the Tourette syndrome biopic I Swear, beating favourites Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio. A shocked Aramayo, who also won the EE Bafta rising star award, said: 'I absolutely can't believe it, I can't believe I'm in the same category as you never mind being stood here.' I Swear also won the casting prize.
