Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic political satire, “One Battle After Another,” has cemented its position as a frontrunner for the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards, leading the initial longlist with an impressive 16 nominations. This marks the highest number of nods since the longlist round was introduced in 2021. The film received recognition across major categories, including Best Film, Director, and Adapted Screenplay. Its cast also dominated the performance lists, with Chase Infiniti, Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Benicio Del Toro, and Sean Penn all advancing to the next voting round.

A tight cluster of films followed closely behind, demonstrating a highly competitive awards season. Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet” and Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” each secured 14 longlist slots. Josh Safdie’s “Marty Supreme” earned 13 nods, while Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Bugonia” and Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” both received 12. Other notable films with significant presence included “Sentimental Value” and “Wicked: For Good,” both finding spaces on eight lists. Notably, Cynthia Erivo made it into the Leading Actress category for “Wicked: For Good” despite recent snubs from SAG and Critics Choice.

British cinema also celebrated a strong showing in the longlists. “I Swear” and “Pillion” each landed on six lists, while “The Ballad of Wallis Island” earned five, including performance nominations. Robert Aramayo and Peter Mullan from “I Swear,” Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgard from “Pillion,” and Carey Mulligan from “Wallis Island” all progressed. Crucially, “Wallis Island” and “I Swear” were among the 10 films longlisted for Best Film, a category also featuring “Nuremberg,” which garnered six slots overall. The Outstanding British Film category showcased a diverse selection, including “28 Years Later,” “Ballad of a Small Player,” “The Ballad of Wallis Island,” “Hamnet,” “I Swear,” and “Pillion.”

However, the longlists also revealed several surprising omissions and snubs. Jafar Panahi’s Palme d’Or-winning “It Was Just an Accident” only managed two longlist mentions, for Original Screenplay and Film Not in English Language. “The Secret Agent” shared a similar fate, appearing in the same two categories but notably missing a nod for its lead star Wagner Moura, who is still considered an Oscars potential. Despite its growing buzz, “Sirāt” also received just two mentions, for Casting and Film in the English Language, surprisingly missing out on a sound nomination.

Further disappointments included several films tipped for early awards glory. “The Smashing Machine” found space solely on the Make Up & Hair list, “Jay Kelly” secured only a supporting slot for Adam Sandler, and “Hedda” earned a leading actress slot for Tessa Thompson. Local British titles such as Harris Dickinson’s directorial debut “Urchin” and Akinola Davies Jr.’s “My Father’s Shadow” received just one longlist space each, with “My Father’s Shadow” unexpectedly missing the Outstanding British Film list entirely. Complete shut-outs from the longlists included “After the Hunt” and “The Testament of Ann Lee.”

The extensive longlists covered a wide array of categories, reflecting the breadth of cinematic achievement. Beyond the main awards, these included Children’s & Family Film, Documentary, and Animated Film, featuring titles like “How to Train Your Dragon,” “Ocean With David Attenborough,” and “Zootropolis 2.” Technical categories such as Cinematography, Costume Design, Editing, Make Up & Hair, Original Score, Production Design, Special Visual Effects, and Sound also highlighted diverse talent and innovation in films like “Bugonia,” “Frankenstein,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “One Battle After Another,” and “Sinners.” British Short Animation and British Short Film categories also showcased emerging talents with numerous entries.

All may change dramatically when the full list of nominations is announced on January 27, with the exception of the Rising Star award nominees, which will be unveiled on January 14. The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on February 22 at London’s Royal Festival Hall, with Alan Cumming hosting the event for the first time.