LONDON (AP) — The highly anticipated British Academy Film Awards, commonly known as the BAFTAs, will take place on Sunday. Two films, One Battle After Another and Sinners, are leading the charge, vying for recognition in a competitive awards season.
With 14 nominations, One Battle After Another is a standout contender, boasting acting nominations for five of its cast members. Hot on its heels is Sinners, which has received 13 nominations. Another notable contender is Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao, which has 11 nominations and is viewed by some as a potential upset in the best picture category, thanks to its emotionally resonant narrative set against a richly depicted English backdrop. The film, based on Maggie O’Farrell's historical novel, features intense performances that might resonate with British film industry voters.
Guillermo del Toro’s reimagination of Frankenstein and the Norwegian family drama Sentimental Value also garnered attention with eight nominations each.
The BAFTAs serve as an important precursor to the Oscars, which will be held on March 15, 2026. After the Oscar nominations, Sinners leads with a record 16 nominations, with One Battle After Another following closely behind with 13.
As the ceremony approaches, an array of stars is anticipated to grace the red carpet at London’s Royal Festival Hall, including Emma Stone, Cillian Murphy, Glenn Close, and Ethan Hawke. The event will be hosted by Scottish actor Alan Cumming, who has expressed his intention to balance celebration with a bit of mischief.
The nominees for best film include One Battle After Another, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Sinners, and Sentimental Value. Distinctively, the BAFTAs feature a category for best British film, showcasing works like The Ballad of Wallis Island, Pillion, I Swear, and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.
In terms of directing nominations, Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle, Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme, Ryan Coogler for Sinners, Yorgos Lanthimos for Bugonia, Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value, and Zhao for Hamnet are among the contenders. Zhao's nomination is particularly notable, as she could become the first female director to win two BAFTAs, having previously won in 2021 for Nomadland.
For the best leading actor category, favorites include Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another, Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, Michael B. Jordan for Sinners, Jesse Plemons for Bugonia, and Robert Aramayo in I Swear.
In the leading actress category, Jessie Buckley is viewed as the frontrunner for her portrayal of Agnes Hathaway in Hamnet. She faces competition from Rose Byrne in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Kate Hudson in Song Sung Blue, Chase Infiniti for One Battle After Another, Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value, and Emma Stone for Bugonia.
The talented cast of One Battle includes Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, and Sean Penn, all nominated for their supporting roles.
Notably, the Associated Press is nominated in the best documentary category for Mstyslav Chernov's impactful film 200 Meters to Andriivka, co-produced with Frontline PBS.
Most BAFTA winners are determined by the 8,500 members of the U.K. film academy. However, the Rising Star award, which is the only prize chosen by a public vote and has historically been an accurate predictor of future stars, includes nominees such as Infiniti, Aramayo, Sinners star Miles Caton, and British talents Archie Madekwe and Posy Sterling.
Additionally, Donna Langley, the U.K.-born chairwoman of NBCUniversal Entertainment, will be honored with the prestigious BAFTA fellowship.
The ceremony will be broadcast on BBC in the United Kingdom starting at 1900 GMT (2 p.m. EST) and on E! in the U.S. at 2000 EST.
