The 79th BAFTA Awards on Sunday night delivered a major shock that dramatically shifted the trajectory of this year’s Oscars race, especially affecting Timothée Chalamet’s standing. Despite entering the ceremony as the leading contender for Best Actor, fueled by strong wins earlier in the season, Chalamet lost the BAFTA in a surprising upset to Robert Aramayo, undermining his momentum as final Oscar votes approach.
Shock Victory in Leading Actor Category Disrupts Expectations
Timothée Chalamet was widely expected to secure the BAFTA for Best Actor for his role in Josh Safdie’s biographical sports drama, where he portrayed Marty Mauser, a flamboyant and talented table tennis player rising through 1950s New York’s underground scene. Riding earlier triumphs at the Critics Choice and Golden Globe Awards, Chalamet appeared positioned to dominate the awards season.
However, Robert Aramayo’s surprise win for his performance in Kirk Jones’ Tourette’s drama I Swear dramatically altered the narrative. Aramayo also earned the EE Rising Star Award, a public-voted honor, demonstrating strong grassroots support. Although I Swear won’t compete in this year’s Oscars due to its U.S. release schedule, the psychological impact of this late-season BAFTA upset cannot be underestimated, potentially influencing Academy voters’ perceptions ahead of the final ballot.
BAFTA’s Best Film and Director Categories Reflect a Divided Race
While the acting races took unexpected turns, the battle for Best Film leaned toward a dominant force. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another commanded the ceremony with six wins, including both Best Film and Best Director. It also secured major awards in crucial technical fields such as cinematography and editing, reinforcing its strength across creative departments and boosting its Oscars prospects.
In contrast, Ryan Coogler’s Sinners made a remarkable showing by clinching three BAFTAs, including Original Screenplay for Coogler—marking a historic first as the first Black recipient in that category at the BAFTAs—and a win for supporting actress Wunmi Mosaku. This exemplifies a growing critical appreciation for Coogler’s story, compellingly blending industry recognition with social significance.
Full List of BAFTA Award Winners in Major Categories
Best Film
1. Hamnet
2. Marty Supreme
3. One Battle After Another (Winner)
4. Sentimental Value
5. Sinners
Best Director
– Yorgos Lanthimos, Bugonia
– Chloé Zhao, Hamnet
– Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme
– Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another (Winner)
– Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value
– Ryan Coogler, Sinners
Leading Actress
– Jessie Buckley, Hamnet (Winner)
– Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
– Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue
– Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another
– Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value
– Emma Stone, Bugonia
Leading Actor
– Robert Aramayo, I Swear (Winner)
– Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme
– Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another
– Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon
– Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
– Jesse Plemons, Bugonia
Supporting Actress
– Odessa A’zion, Marty Supreme
– Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value
– Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners (Winner)
– Carey Mulligan, The Ballad of Wallis Island
– Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another
– Emily Watson, Hamnet
Supporting Actor
– Benicio del Toro, One Battle After Another
– Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein
– Paul Mescal, Hamnet
– Peter Mullan, I Swear
– Sean Penn, One Battle After Another (Winner)
– Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value
EE Rising Star Award
– Robert Aramayo (Winner)
About “Marty Supreme” and Timothée Chalamet’s Role
Marty Supreme centers on Marty Reisman, a table tennis prodigy navigating the chequered world of 1950s New York, blending acrobatics with a magnetic but volatile personality. Under Josh Safdie’s direction, the film explores Marty’s drive to ascend in his sport while managing personal demons and the precarious balance between fame and obsession. Timothée Chalamet’s portrayal was widely praised but ultimately overshadowed by the BAFTA upset.
What the BAFTA Results Mean for the Oscar Race
The unexpected outcomes at the BAFTA Awards leave the Oscar race in a state of uncertainty, removing the clear frontrunner label from Timothée Chalamet. Paul Thomas Anderson’s sweeping success strengthens One Battle After Another as a leading contender, but the strong showing of Ryan Coogler’s Sinners in key categories hints at a more competitive and unpredictable awards season ahead. Voters will now face pressure to reassess their choices as final Oscar balloting begins, making the next two weeks critical for all nominees.
