Peter Bradshaw’s Baftas 2026 predictions – who’ll get the gongs, who’ll be the goners?

Peter Bradshaw’s Baftas 2026 predictions – who’ll get the gongs, who’ll be the goners?

Will Paul Thomas Anderson’s ICE age conspiracy thriller sweep the board, or will Sinners and Hamnet share some glory? Our critic places his bets

Best film

Will win One Battle After Another
Should win Hamnet
Shoulda been a contender The Secret Agent

Best director

Will win Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
Should win Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
Shoulda been a contender Kleber Mendonça Filho (The Secret Agent)

Outstanding British debut

Will win Pillion
Should win My Father’s Shadow
Shoulda been a contender Brides

Best British film

Will win The Ballad of Wallis Island
Should win The Ballad of Wallis Island
Shoulda been a contender The Choral

Best film not in the English language

Will win Sentimental Value
Should win The Secret Agent
Shoulda been a contender The Ice Tower

Small wonder … Little Amélie

Best animated film

Will win Little Amélie
Should win Little Amélie
Shoulda been a contender Savages

Best original screenplay

Will win I Swear
Should win The Secret Agent
Shoulda been a contender Santosh

Best adapted screenplay

Will win One Battle After Another
Should win One Battle After Another
Shoulda been a contender Don’t Let’s Go to The Dogs Tonight

Best leading actor

Will win Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme)
Should win Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon)
Shoulda been a contender Josh O’Connor (The MastermindWake Up Dead Man)

Star delivery … Jessie Buckley in Hamnet. Photograph: Landmark Media/Alamy

Best leading actress

Will win Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
Should win Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
Shoulda been a contender Emma Thompson (Dead of Winter)

Best supporting actor

Will win Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value)
Should win Peter Mullan (I Swear)
Shoulda been a contender Delroy Lindo (Sinners)

Best supporting actress

Will win Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another)
Should win Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another)
Shoulda been a contender Sunita Rajwar (Santosh) or Fiona Shaw (Hot MilkPark Avenue)

Cruising to victory … Sinners. Photograph: Collection Christophel/Alamy

Best original score

Will win Sinners
Should win Sinners
Shoulda been a contender The Ballad of Wallis Island

Best cinematography

Will win Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Sinners)
Should win Adolpho Veloso (Train Dreams)
Shoulda been a contender Charlotte Bruus Christensen (H Is for Hawk)

Best documentary

Will win 2000 Meters to Adriivka
Should win 2000 Meters to Adriivka
Shoulda been a contender Colossal Wreck

Rising star award

Will win Miles Caton
Should win Miles Caton
Shoulda been a contender Tut Nyuot