Wunmi Mosaku's Emotional BAFTA Triumph and the Night's Unforgettable Moments
The 2026 British Academy Film Awards ceremony was a night of heartfelt speeches, controversial humor, and royal commentary, with Wunmi Mosaku's win for Best Supporting Actress in Sinners standing out as a particularly emotional highlight. Mosaku, visibly moved, expressed disbelief at her victory, thanking her family and drawing a poignant parallel to Aesop's fable The Sun and the Wind to honor her mother's unwavering support.
Controversial Jokes and Royal Reactions
Host Alan Cumming kept the audience on edge with a series of sharp-witted and sometimes cutting remarks. He distributed snacks to Kylie Jenner, asking if she had ever had her gums around a giant Jammie Dodger, and made a joke about Disney's Zootropolis 2 that was cut from the TV broadcast for its pointed political commentary. Cumming also playfully rebuked actor Paul Mescal for being on his phone during the ceremony.
BAFTA President Prince William offered his candid backstage verdicts on key nominees, describing the film One Battle After Another as weird and praising F1 primarily for its music. His informal assessments added a unique royal touch to the evening's proceedings.
Notable Acceptance Speeches and Presentations
Robert Aramayo, winner of the Best Leading Actor award for I Swear, expressed his astonishment at sharing the category with industry legends and credited Ethan Hawke for inspiring his career longevity. Jessie Buckley, honored as Best Leading Actress for Hamnet, dedicated her award to her daughter, promising to remain disobedient to foster her child's wildness.
Warwick Davis humorously addressed Tom Cruise's absence by presenting with a mini lectern originally intended for Paddington, while Paul Thomas Anderson, upon winning Best Director, quipped that he felt like the prettiest girl in the room. Dean Atta, receiving the Best British Short Animation award for Two Black Boys in Paradise, highlighted the rarity of seeing black gay joy on stage.
International and Debut Recognitions
Joachim Trier celebrated Norway's first BAFTA win for Best Film Not in the English Language with Sentimental Value, joking about their usual skiing prowess. Akinola Davies Jr., honored for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer for My Father's Shadow, dedicated his award to children of the diaspora and called for global solidarity, ending with a Free Palestine statement.
Sam Mendes, accepting the Outstanding British Film award for Hamnet, urged the industry to pat itself on the back more often, and Ryan Coogler, winning Best Original Screenplay for Sinners, offered advice to aspiring writers to think of loved ones and those in pain. The evening concluded with Anderson's blunt retort to critics of modern cinema during his Best Film acceptance for One Battle After Another.
