BAFTAs Deliver Stunning Upsets and Historic Wins

The 79th BAFTA Awards ceremony, held at London's Royal Festival Hall on Sunday, was a night to remember, filled with stunning upsets, historic wins, and a renewed sense of unpredictability in the awards season. As the film industry hurtles towards the final stretch before Oscar voting opens on Thursday, February 26, the BAFTAs have undoubtedly shaken up the landscape.

One of the most significant surprises of the evening was Robert Aramayo's Best Actor win for his performance in "I Swear." Aramayo, who portrayed real-life Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson, beat out a star-studded lineup that included Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke, Timothée Chalamet, Jesse Plemons, and Michael B. Jordan. In a post-ceremony interview, Aramayo expressed his shock and gratitude, saying, "I honestly can't believe I won" (Source 4).

Another major upset occurred when "Marty Supreme," which had clocked 11 nominations, including Best Film and Leading Actor, left the ceremony empty-handed. This shutout was not entirely unexpected, as there was a clear path for it to happen, but it still marked a significant disappointment for Josh Safdie and Timothée Chalamet, who had been heavily favored in several categories (Source 3).

On the other hand, "Sinners" made history by becoming the most decorated movie by a Black director at the BAFTA Film Awards. Ryan Coogler's vampire thriller won three bronze masks, eclipsing the previous record held by Steve McQueen's "12 Years a Slave," which scooped two awards in 2014 (Source 5).

Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" was the night's dominant force, winning six BAFTAs, including Best Film, Director, and Adapted Screenplay. This victory has further solidified Anderson's position as a leading contender in the awards season.

The BAFTAs have undoubtedly added a layer of complexity to the Oscar race, which is now more unpredictable than ever. As the industry prepares for the final stretch, one thing is certain: the competition will be fierce, and the outcome will be far from certain. As one observer noted, the supporting races are "anyone's game," with Sean Penn and Wunmi Mosaku proving that even the most unlikely candidates can emerge victorious (Source 1).

In the midst of these surprises and milestones, it's clear that the 79th BAFTA Awards will be remembered as a turning point in the awards season. As the industry looks ahead to the Oscars, one thing is certain: the road to the Academy Awards will be filled with twists and turns, and only time will tell who will emerge victorious.

Sources:

• BAFTAs Make the Oscars Messy, From Timothée Chalamet’s Shocking Loss to Sean Penn and Wunmi Mosaku Proving Supporting Races Are Anyone’s Game
• On A Night Of BAFTA Surprises, Was ‘Boong’ The Biggest?
• ‘Marty Supreme’ Shut Out At BAFTA Film Awards After Clocking 11 Nominations
• ‘I Swear’ Star Robert Aramayo in Shock After Being Named BAFTA Best Actor Over Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet: ‘I Honestly Can’t Believe I Won’
• ‘Sinners’ Makes BAFTA History, Becoming Most Decorated Movie By Black Director At Film Awards