2026 BAFTAs, Cumming explains N-word outburst during awards ceremony, El Mencho's Death

2026 BAFTA Film Awards deliver historic wins

The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards turned into a night of bold storytelling, breakthrough victories, and history-making moments as Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler emerged as the evening’s defining forces.

Held at London’s Royal Festival Hall and hosted by Alan Cumming, the ceremony delivered surprise wins and standing ovations. Anderson’s gripping political thriller One Battle After Another dominated the board with six awards, including Best Film and Best Director, cementing its status as the year’s critical heavyweight. The film had entered the night with 14 nominations, narrowly ahead of its closest rival.

But it was Coogler’s genre-bending vampire drama Sinners that carved its name into BAFTA history. The film secured three wins, becoming the most awarded film by a Black filmmaker in the academy’s history. Coogler himself made history as the first Black winner of the Best Original Screenplay prize, while longtime collaborator Ludwig Göransson clinched Original Score. Wunmi Mosaku added to the film’s triumph with a Supporting Actress victory.

Meanwhile, one of the night’s most emotional moments came courtesy of I Swear, directed by Kirk Jones. The Tourette Syndrome-centered dramedy stunned audiences when its star Robert Aramayo took home not one but two trophies: Leading Actor and the public-voted EE Rising Star Award. Audible gasps echoed through the hall as Aramayo triumphed in a competitive category, marking a career-defining breakthrough. The film also earned recognition for Casting.

Elsewhere, Chloé Zhao’s literary adaptation Hamnet earned Outstanding British Film, while star Jessie Buckley captured the Leading Actress prize. Gothic spectacle Frankenstein swept the craft categories with wins for Costume Design, Production Design, and Make-up & Hair, showcasing BAFTA voters’ appreciation for technical artistry.

From prestige dramas to bold horror and intimate character studies, the 2026 BAFTAs reflected a year where daring voices and diverse storytelling took center stage.

Here are the full list of winners:

• Best Film – ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER – Adam Somner, Sara Murphy, Paul Thomas Anderson

• Leading Actress – JESSIE BUCKLEY – Hamnet

• Leading Actor – ROBERT ARAMAYO – I Swear

• Director – ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER – Paul Thomas Anderson

• EE Rising Star Award (voted for by the public) – Robert Aramayo

• Outstanding British Film – HAMNET – Chloé Zhao, Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris, Nicolas Gonda, Steven Spielberg, Sam Mendes, Maggie O’Farrell

• Film Not in the English Language – SENTIMENTAL VALUE – Joachim Trier, Maria Ekerhovd, Andrea Berentsen Ottmar

• Costume Design – FRANKENSTEIN – Kate Hawley

• Adapted Screenplay – ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER – Paul Thomas Anderson

• Original Score – SINNERS – Ludwig Göransson

• Sound – F1 – Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta

• Cinematography – ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER – Michael Bauman

• Animated Film – ZOOTROPOLIS 2 – Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Yvett Merino

• Editing – ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER – Andy Jurgensen

• Casting – I SWEAR – Lauren Evans

• Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer – MY FATHER’S SHADOW – Akinola Davies Jr. (Director), Wale Davies (Writer)

• Original Screenplay – SINNERS – Ryan Coogler

• British Short Animation – TWO BLACK BOYS IN PARADISE – Baz Sells, Dean Atta, Ben Jackson

• British Short Film – THIS IS ENDOMETRIOSIS – Georgie Wileman, Matt Houghton, Harriette Wright

• Documentary – MR. NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN – David Borenstein, Helle Faber, Radovan Síbrt, Alžběta Karásková

• Make-up & Hair – FRANKENSTEIN – Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey, Mike Hill, Megan Many

• Production Design – FRANKENSTEIN – Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau

• Children’s & Family Film – BOONG – Lakshmipriya Devi, Ritesh Sidhwani

• Supporting Actor – SEAN PENN – One Battle After Another

• Supporting Actress – WUNMI MOSAKU – Sinners

• Special Visual Effects – AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH – Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Daniel Barrett, Eric Saindon

Broadway cancels all Sunday evening shows due to blizzard

As a powerful winter storm barrels toward New York City, most evening performances scheduled for Sunday, February 22 have been canceled, with forecasters predicting between 16 and 24 inches of snow and near whiteout conditions. 

The decision follows a state of emergency declaration from Kathy Hochul and a Blizzard Warning issued by the National Weather Service, effective Sunday afternoon through Monday evening.

While matinees beginning at 3 p.m. ET or earlier will go on as planned, the storm is forcing major productions to shut their doors for the night. Among the shows affected are Wicked, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, The Book of Mormon, All Out: Comedy About Ambition, Oh, Mary!, & Juliet, and Chicago.

One of the most bittersweet closures of the evening belongs to Operation Mincemeat. The musical had initially planned to proceed with its 7:30 p.m. curtain call, which was set to mark the final performances of original cast members David Cumming, Claire-Marie Hall, Natasha Hodgson, Jak Malone and Zoë Roberts. 

By midday Sunday, however, producers pulled the plug. 

In a silver lining for fans, the cast announced they will livestream a concert featuring the show’s musical numbers at 5:30 p.m. ET instead.

Animated Film 'GOAT' claims top box office spot from 'Wuthering Heights'

The North American box office delivered an unexpected twist this weekend as two familiar titles returned to the ring and quietly reshaped the leaderboard.

Family audiences powered GOAT back to the top spot, giving Sony Pictures Animation another reason to celebrate. The animated underdog tale added $17 million in its second weekend, showing impressive staying power at a time when new releases struggled to gain traction. 

Backed by NBA star Stephen Curry and featuring the voice of Caleb McLaughlin, the sports comedy has now leapt past $100 million worldwide, landing at $102.3 million globally. Its modest 38% drop suggests strong family turnout and repeat viewings could keep it in play for weeks to come.

Close behind was Warner Bros.’ sweeping romantic drama Wuthering Heights, which collected $14.2 million in its sophomore frame. Though the film dipped more sharply at 57%, it continues to perform solidly overseas. 

The adaptation has now amassed $151.7 million worldwide, including $22.5 million from the U.K. alone, making it a notable international performer against its reported $80 million production budget.

Mexican drug lord ‘El Mencho’ killed in a military operation

Mexico’s long manhunt for one of the world’s most notorious drug lords has come to a dramatic and violent end.

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as “El Mencho,” was killed during a large-scale security operation aimed at capturing him, according to Mexico’s defense ministry. The 59-year-old leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel, widely known as CJNG, reportedly died after being seriously wounded in clashes between cartel gunmen and Mexican armed forces in the town of Tapalpa.

But the cartel’s response was swift and chaotic.

Across at least eight Mexican states, CJNG members allegedly torched vehicles, erected roadblocks, and attacked security forces. Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising over cities including Guadalajara, one of the host cities for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. 

In the coastal resort of Puerto Vallarta, thousands of tourists were left stranded as violence disrupted transportation. Flights operated by major North American carriers were canceled or diverted, and public transit was suspended in parts of Jalisco under a “code red” warning issued by Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro.

President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo urged citizens to remain calm, saying that most regions of the country were functioning normally despite the unrest. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service issued safety alerts for Americans in several affected Mexican states.

BAFTAs host Alan Cumming explains N-word outburst during ceremony

An unexpected moment unfolded at the BAFTAs when host Alan Cumming addressed the audience after an involuntary outburst from Tourette’s syndrome activist John Davidson was picked up by microphones inside the venue.

According to multiple reports, Davidson shouted offensive language during the ceremony, including a racial slur directed at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo, as well as remarks interrupting opening comments by BAFTA chair Sara Putt. 

The outbursts, which were audible in the room, were later clarified as symptoms associated with Davidson’s Tourette’s syndrome.

“You may have noticed some strong language in the background there, this can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience,” Cumming explained.

“Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone.”

ICYMI:

• Lee Jongsuk is reportedly set to headline the upcoming romantic comedy Lee Seob’s Love, an adaptation of Kim Eon-hee’s popular web novel, with production aiming to start later this year, though an exact filming schedule has yet to be announced.

• Tia Billinger, widely recognized by her online persona Bonnie Blue, has announced that she is pregnant.

• Donna Langley has teased the possibility of a third installment in the Mamma Mia franchise, saying, “Yes, I’m going to say right now that there will be a Mamma Mia 3 [...] If Meryl Streep would like to come back, we’ll find a way to bring her back.” 

— Bea Bertuldo

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