Bafta Nominations 2026: Political Films Dominate as British Cinema Earns Acclaim
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has unveiled its nominations for the 2026 awards, with Paul Thomas Anderson's politically charged epic One Battle After Another leading the pack with an impressive 14 nominations. This antifa parable, inspired by Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland, features Leonardo DiCaprio as a dishevelled ex-revolutionary confronting Sean Penn's brutal Colonel Lockjaw. Its prominence arrives at a queasily appropriate zeitgeist moment, reflecting contemporary tensions around immigration and authority in the United States.
Cinematic Intersections with Current Headlines
The awards-season love extends to Ryan Coogler's subversive vampire riff Sinners, which explores America's black experience and has secured 13 Bafta nominations. In the non-English language category, films like Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident, addressing Iranian theocratic tyranny, and Kaouther Ben Hania's The Voice of Hind Rajab, about a child killed in Gaza, underscore cinema's role in engaging with global issues. Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho's The Secret Agent, a tale of dissidence in 70s Brazil, also features prominently, though some critics question the acclaim for Óliver Laxe's Sirāt.
British Films Receive Well-Deserved Recognition
Amidst the international heavyweights, British cinema shines with several notable entries. Kirk Jones's I Swear, starring Robert Aramayo as an activist with Tourette syndrome, has earned five nominations, including best actor. However, the standout British film for many is The Ballad of Wallis Island, directed by an emerging talent and nominated in three categories: outstanding British film, adapted screenplay, and best supporting actress for Carey Mulligan. This tender story follows an eccentric widower, played by Tim Key, who attempts to reunite a folk-rock duo for a private gig, evoking the charm of classics like Local Hero.
Other British contenders include Tim Mielants's Steve with Cillian Murphy, Lynne Ramsay's Die My Love, and Philippa Lowthorpe's H Is for Hawk, all vying for the outstanding British film award. Notably, the "outstanding debut" category highlights fresh voices like Akinola Davies Jr's My Father's Shadow and the BDSM comedy Pillion, though some feel snubbed, such as Harris Dickinson's homelessness drama Urchin.
Awards Season Highlights and Speculations
Josh Safdie's ping-pong comedy Marty Supreme, featuring Timothée Chalamet, and Chloé Zhao's romantic fantasy Hamnet, which imagines the origins of Shakespeare's Hamlet, each have 11 nominations. Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein and Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value share eight nods, while Yorgos Lanthimos's eco-nightmare Bugonia with Emma Stone has five. As the ceremony approaches on 22 February, anticipation builds over whether political relevance or British charm will triumph, with hopes high for Tim Key's heartfelt performance in The Ballad of Wallis Island to earn a Bafta win.
