The nominations for the prestigious London Critics' Circle Film Awards have been unveiled, with Paul Thomas Anderson's political thriller 'One Battle After Another' emerging as the clear frontrunner. The film, already generating significant Oscar buzz, has secured an impressive nine nominations.
A Triumph for Countercultural Cinema
Anderson's epic leads the field with nods in the major categories, including Film of the Year, Director of the Year for Anderson, and Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio. The Best Supporting Actor category will see a fierce contest between two of the film's stars, Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn.
Hot on its heels is the adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's novel, 'Hamnet', which collected eight nominations. These include another shot at Film of the Year, a Best Actress nomination for Jessie Buckley, and a Director of the Year nod for Chloé Zhao. Notably, the film's lead, Paul Mescal, was overlooked in the Actor of the Year category.
Other strong performers include Ryan Coogler's musical vampire horror 'Sinners' with seven nominations, and Josh Safdie's 'Marty Supreme', which earned six. Timothée Chalamet's performance in 'Marty Supreme' secured him an Actor of the Year nomination.
Celebrating Human Artistry in a Digital Age
Jane Crowther, chair of the London Critics' Circle film section, emphasised the significance of this year's selections. "At a time when A.I. and homogeny seem to be the shorthand answer to everything, it's encouraging to see the films that our members voted for are teeming with human life, creativity and unique perspectives," she stated.
"Boasting bold, vital stories, real experiences and artistry, these movies and their creative teams are evidence that not everything can be made by an algorithm," Crowther added, framing the awards as a celebration of authentic filmmaking.
The Full Spectrum of Nominees
The awards showcase a diverse range of films beyond the frontrunners. Oliver Laxe's 'Sirāt', Joachim Trier's 'Sentimental Value', and Kelly Reichardt's 'The Mastermind' each received four nominations.
The British and Irish film categories are particularly strong this year, with 'Hamnet' also nominated for British/Irish Film of the Year. Other contenders in that category include 'The Ballad of Wallis Island' and 'Pillion'.
The winners across all categories will be announced at a ceremony in London on 1 February 2026. The full list of nominations highlights a vibrant year for cinema, from major studio releases to independent gems, all vying for recognition from the UK's top film critics.
