The 79th BAFTA Film Awards in London proved to be an evening of both grandeur and significant shifts, intensely influencing the trajectory of the ongoing awards season. Prince William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, made a highly anticipated appearance, their presence signaling a "business as usual" stance for the British royal family despite recent personal and public family developments, including the arrest of William’s uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Dressed impeccably—William in a burgundy velvet jacket and Catherine in a floor-length pink Gucci dress—the royal couple walked the red carpet, engaging with senior event organizers inside the Royal Festival Hall. Prince William, who has served as BAFTA president since 2010, openly discussed his film preferences, praising “F1” for its music and calling “One Battle After Another” quite good, though admitting he hadn’t seen “Hamnet” due to not being in the right frame of mind. Their attendance was particularly notable as they had not attended the previous year, with William arriving solo in 2024 as Catherine was recovering from abdominal surgery, later revealed to be cancer-related; her last appearance was in 2023.

The night itself was characterized by "fractured, unpredictable and thrilling chaos" as the race barreled into the final stretch before Oscar voting. Paul Thomas Anderson’s sprawling and politically-charged satire, “One Battle After Another,” emerged as the night’s dominant force, claiming six BAFTAs. These included the coveted awards for Best Film, Best Director for Anderson, Adapted Screenplay, Supporting Actor for Sean Penn, Cinematography, and Editing. Accepting his Best Director award, Anderson dedicated it to the late producer Adam Somner, quipping, “Anybody that says movies aren’t any good anymore should piss right off,” and urging filmmakers to "keep making things without fear." His film, loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s novel “Vineland” and featuring an ensemble cast including Leonardo DiCaprio and Benicio Del Toro, solidified its position as a clear best picture frontrunner for the Academy Awards.

A monumental moment arrived with Ryan Coogler's win for Original Screenplay for "Sinners," making him the first Black winner in this specific BAFTA category. Coogler, visibly surprised and emotional, emphasized the importance of community and love in his creative process. His historical horror film, "Sinners," amassed 13 BAFTA nominations—the most ever for a film directed by a Black filmmaker—and shattered the all-time Oscars nominations record with 16 nods. Beyond the screenplay, "Sinners" also secured BAFTAs for Supporting Actress (Wunmi Mosaku) and Original Score, adding crucial above-the-line vitality to its Oscar campaign. Coogler's BAFTA triumph significantly sharpens his Oscar prospects in a field where only Jordan Peele has previously won an Original Screenplay Oscar as a Black screenwriter.

However, the evening was not without its dramatic upsets. Timothée Chalamet, widely considered the frontrunner for Leading Actor after previous wins at the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes, lost to Robert Aramayo for his performance in Kirk Jones’ Tourette’s drama “I Swear.” Aramayo also earned the EE Rising Star Award, the only public-voted honor, indicating a forward-looking momentum for his and the film's Oscar eligibility next year. In a particularly brutal turn, Josh Safdie’s sports dramedy “Marty Supreme” left the ceremony with an unwelcome distinction, tying the record for most losses in a single night by going 0 for 11. Despite formidable nomination strength, including for Chalamet and in categories like Best Film and Director, the film was completely shut out. While such a clean sweep of losses stings, history offers examples like "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and "Moonlight" that rebounded from poor BAFTA showings to Oscar success, suggesting the race still holds potential for shifts.

The ceremony also brought attention to John Davidson, a Tourette’s campaigner and the subject of the BAFTA-nominated film “I Swear.” Davidson, who lives with Tourette's syndrome, experienced involuntary outbursts during the live event, including expletives during introductory speeches and award presentations. BAFTA host Alan Cumming, who himself handed back a royal honor for activism in 2023, addressed the audience, explaining the nature of Tourette's as a disability with involuntary tics, and thanked attendees for their understanding. The film “I Swear,” featuring Robert Aramayo as Davidson, aims to foster greater understanding and support for individuals living with Tourette's, a condition that affects many, including public figures like Billie Eilish.

Adding to the evening's significant moments, Prince William awarded the BAFTA Fellowship, the organization’s highest honor, to NBCUniversal chair Donna Langley. William praised the British-born studio head as a “shining light,” commending her exceptional contribution to film, transformative leadership, and tireless advocacy for British talent abroad. Langley, a recipient of a Damehood from Queen Elizabeth II, accepted the award with a message about supporting emerging voices and protecting talent in an evolving industry.

As the BAFTAs concluded, the Oscar landscape became both clearer and simultaneously more complex. “One Battle After Another” stood as the best picture target, Jessie Buckley for “Hamnet” appeared to be a near-lock for leading actress, and Ryan Coogler enjoyed significant momentum for original screenplay. However, several other crucial categories, notably the supporting acting races, remained intensely contested and unpredictable, with multiple different winners across the preceding awards shows. Final Oscar voting was scheduled from Feb. 26 to March 5, culminating in the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, to be hosted by Conan O’Brien, promising a thrilling conclusion to the awards season.