State of the Race: So about those BAFTA longlists...
Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 10:00PM
Cláudio Alves in 28 Years Later, BAFTA, British cinema, Bugonia, Hamnet, I Swear, Nuremberg, Oscar Punditry, Pillion, Punditry, Sentimental Value, The Ballad of Wallis Island

by Cláudio Alves

Is I SWEAR this year's little British film that could? Maybe.

The Oscar nominations are ever closer, so it’s time to start finalizing those predictions. And since this year, BAFTA will reveal their lineups after AMPAS, pundits everywhere must make do with the British Academy’s longlists. In the past, they’ve been a good indicator of what the industry’s feeling, and how it differs from the critics who’ve been dominating the awards conversations so far in the season. As expected, One Battle After Another has the most mentions, at 16, closely followed by Hamnet and Sinners with 14 each, Marty Supreme at 13, and both Bugonia and Frankenstein with 12. Still, what’s most surprising and enticing is how BAFTA can go its own way and zig when we expect a zag. Consider their love for Nuremberg, and such local success stories as I Swear and The Ballad of Wallis Island…

 

Best Film

The biggest story here might be Bugonia’s overall success, revealing that there’s industry passion for the latest Lanthimos. And, when it comes to the Oscars’ expanded ballot, sometimes passion is the key to a surprise Best Picture inclusion. In other news, while I love to see the British Academy going to bat for their national cinema, the lack of non-English-language productions behind Sentimental Value irks. Then again, many contenders backed by NEON in the US haven’t even opened in UK theaters, securing BAFTA eligibility mostly through a technicality and with little campaign fanfare from their local distributors. Still, one would think It Was Just an Accident, The Secret Agent or Sirat could have scored more votes than Nuremberg.

 

 

Outstanding British Film

It’s heartbreaking to see My Father’s Shadow excluded from this list, especially as it was the film chosen to represent the UK in the Best International Feature Oscar race. Ballad of a Small Player and The Roses over that? Are you kidding me? Anyway, congratulations to the longlisted titles. I’ll be rooting for Pillion and Die My Love, while fully expecting Hamnet to take the prize when all is said and done.

 

Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer 

Nice to see that, at least, Akinola Davies Jr.’s debut made it here. Indeed, this is a much more interesting selection than the longlist for Outstanding British Film. More adventurous, for sure, with such genre risks as The Man in My Basement, non-fiction exercises and the Loach-ian character study of Urchin.

 

Best Children’s & Family Film 

While I’m not the biggest fan of Boong, it’s lovely to find such an under-the-radar film make it into the BAFTA longlists. Also, thank heavens for some variety. At least, this year, it looks like this category won’t be a carbon copy of Best Animated Film.

 

Best Film Not in the English Language

Always interesting to see BAFTA go to bat for films that are ineligible for this category at the Oscars. So, congrats and good luck to La Grazia, Nouvelle Vague and Rental Family, even if I don’t have any great affection for those flicks. Would’ve loved to see more of these titles appear on the other longlists.

 

Best Documentary 

I’m most happy about the films included here that have no hopes of getting into the Oscar lineup since they missed the Academy’s shortlist. So, a round of applause to Becoming Led Zeppelin, The Librarians, Ocean with David Attenborough, One to One and Riefenstahl. And a toast to the rest, which are one step closer to Hollywood’s highest honor. Or, at least, that’s what it’s looking like. We all know that branch loves to pull the rug from under our feet.

 

Best Animated Film

Before anyone panics, it’s worth noting that KPop Demon Hunters was deemed ineligible since it received no proper UK theatrical release. If it goes on to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar, it’ll be the first picture to take it without a corresponding BAFTA nod. Looking at this list, I’ve got my fingers crossed for Demon Slayer. Not just because it’s the best of the lot, but also because I’m like the fox from Antichrist and will always root for chaos.

 

Best Director

Due to BAFTA rules, this longlist must always have gender parity, which probably accounts for some of these names. This is bad news for a lot of non-English-language films, though I am happy to see more eyes on The Voice of Hind Rajab and Lynne Ramsay deserves all the flowers for a career of unending risk and invention.

 

Best Original Screenplay

In some ways, this is bad news for It Was Just an Accident and The Secret Agent, since it means they were seriously considered by some BAFTA voters while mostly ignored by the general voting body. Also, A House of Dynamite did much better with the British Academy than expected. It’s also nice to see that someone remembered the existence of Is This Thing On? this season. Justice for Laura Dern’s brilliant performance!

 

Best Adapted Screenplay 

This category has the potential to deliver us the most amazing or most stultifying BAFTA lineup of the year. I’m rooting for some inspired surprises in the final ballot, like 28 Years Later and my beloved Pillion. All in all, it’s a pity that neither Hedda nor Kiss of the Spider Woman got any love. Same goes for The History of Sound, but I seem to be one of the few who actually think that film is better than what the tepid reviews from Cannes first suggested.

 

Best Leading Actress 

What I love most about BAFTA is the occasional batting for local talent, even in more obscure productions. So, thank you for putting Dragonfly on my radar. Otherwise, this is a pretty expected list. Fingers crossed for Lawrence and Thompson, who delivered two of the best performances in 2025 British film.

 

Best Leading Actor

Some folks might be surprised by Aramayo’s inclusion, but I’d say he’s an actual threat to win the whole thing. I Swear is a beloved indie and even when I was in London for the Wicked: For Good premiere, fellow critics kept mentioning it to me. After that BIFA victory, the film’s young lead might be looking at a BAFTA to add to his collection. Then again, it’ll probably go to one of the Oscar frontrunners.

 

Best Supporting Actress

At this point, if Elle Fanning pulls off an Oscar nomination, I’ll be genuinely surprised. The Globes were the only big group to show her any love, which is a pity, considering she’s the MVP of Sentimental Value, as far as I’m concerned. Indeed, this whole list is full of stealthy MVPs of major contenders, including Paltrow, Taylor and Watson. Will Mosaku get some home-team advantage here? Let’s hope so, as she’s one of the few parts of Sinners even its detractors seem to be in favor of. I know I’m not the biggest fan of Coogler’s vampire movie, but Mosaku is, for sure, a major highlight. Also, if you were enchanted by her there, please check out her work in His House.

 

Best Supporting Actor

My gut still tells me that Miles Caton will get a sort of surprising Oscar nomination for Sinners. But, since that would be major category fraud and I don’t think he’s that good in it, I’m rooting for Lindo to secure all those plaudits instead. Seeing him here is wonderful for those who, like me, believe he delivers the movie’s best performance. Plus, though people oft forget, he’s a British thespian, so a nomination from the BAFTAs wouldn’t be all that strange. In other news, the two Skarsgårds deliver great co-lead performances, but my preference is for the younger one. That last sequence of his in Pillion is the best work he’s ever done.

 

Best Casting

I’m convinced Sirat is heading toward a Best Casting Oscar nomination and this just adds fuel to the fire of my, mayhap misjudged, certainty. Since I like for awards to keep some of their idiosyncratic identity, I honestly am hoping I Swear and Pillion make the cut and secure those BAFTA nominations at the end of the day.

 

Best Cinematography 

Shed a tear for Kaspar Tuxen, who didn’t manage to make the cut despite the British Academy’s noted affection for Sentimental Value. Also, shed a tear for good taste, because it’s in short supply, judging by a couple of these selections.

 

Best Costume Design

There’s real passion for Bugonia, considering it forced these voters to consider a contemporary-set narrative. The same goes for One Battle After Another, though that’s much less surprising. This Nouvelle Vague mention does make me think it could show up on the Oscar lineup next Thursday. It’s mostly a work of historical recreation, and the costume branch sometimes likes that.

 

Best Editing 

That 28 Years Later mention is really lovely. That “Boots” sequence alone should put the film in consideration for all Best Editing prizes. Also, the Bugonia and Weapons love remains strong, just as the American guilds have suggested.

 

Best Make-up & Hair

Or maybe not, at least in regards to Weapons. Because how is that film still missing Makeup & Hairstyling lists? The work on Madigan is already iconic, as a scroll through social media on Halloween would have shown. But there’s also the dereliction of the zombie-fied children and parents, the terrifying, bloody eyes of the possessed, the graphic violence perpetrated throughout, and more! Also… is Nuremberg here simply because of Russell Crowe’s slight fat suit and commonplace period stylings? Bizarre addition. One would think 28 Years Later would’ve prevailed over that.

 

Best Original Score 

Will you join mine and Nathaniel’s club of folks who feel personally victimized by the insanity that is Wicked getting into Best Original Score races? Rooting for 28 Years Later, crying for The Testament of Ann Lee.

 

Best Production Design

That Mickey 17 mention makes me so happy. Indeed, it’d be lovely to see Fiona Crombie get a double-dipping nomination, for both that Bong Joon-ho sci-fi extravaganza and Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet.

 

Best Special Visual Effects 

Visual effects people really love The Lost Bus, don’t they? In any case, it’s interesting to note how badly MCU movies continue to perform in these categories after years and years of unchecked dominance. I’m not complaining.

 

Best Sound 

Those Bugonia bees worked really hard for this longlist appearance, but I’m not sure they’ll go all the way to a nomination. It’s truly remarkable how much the industry adores the Lanthimos film after a somewhat underwhelming post-Venice reception. Since I’m not a fan of this remake – the original Korean film is superior in every regard – I can’t say I’m especially enthused about this turn of events.

 

Best British Short Animation

For pundits looking for some clarity going into final Oscar predictions, Cardboard made both organizations' lists. None of the other five films made the Best Animated Shortlist Academy shortlist. And, honestly, that makes these mentions all the lovelier. Congratulations to all these potential BAFTA nominees.

 

Best British Short Film

There is some slight Oscar correlation here in the form of The Pearl Comb. I’m somewhat surprised A Friend of Dorothy didn’t make the cut, despite Miriam Margolyes and Stephen Fry’s combined star power. 

 

BAFTA nominations will be announced on January 27. Stay tuned for more awards season updates.

Article originally appeared on The Film Experience (http://thefilmexperience.net/).
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