Anderson's "One Battle" Sweeps Six at BAFTA... Foreign Media Call It "Oscar Trailer"

Sweeping the major categories, including Best Film and Best Director
Aramayo beats DiCaprio to win Best Actor
"Hamnet" star Jessie Buckley takes home Best Actress

Reuters and Yonhap News Agency

Director Paul Thomas Anderson's film "One Battle After Another" captured the top honor at the British Academy Film Awards.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) on the 22nd (local time) awarded the film Best Film, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Supporting Actor (Sean Penn) at the 79th ceremony held at the Royal Festival Hall in London, for a total of six awards. Taking the stage, Anderson said in his acceptance speech, "Like the lyrics of Nina Simone, let's keep making work without fear."

"One Battle After Another" is a political thriller set in a fictional United States plunged into extreme right-left polarization. It tightly depicts the chase of a former revolutionary trying to save his daughter and a grueling test of conviction.

Major foreign media outlets viewed this sweeping victory as a powerful trailer for next month's Academy Awards in the United States. In particular, U.S. entertainment outlet Variety named it "the best film of the year, ranked No. 1." The Hollywood Reporter likewise praised its artistry, noting that "its 14 nominations mark one of the highest totals in history, second only to the 1983 film 'Gandhi.'"

The biggest upset came in the Best Actor category. Robert Aramayo, who played Tourette syndrome activist John Davison in the film "I Swear," beat out formidable contenders such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothee Chalamet. He also took home the Rising Star Award, instantly becoming a double winner.

The Best Actress award went to Jessie Buckley for her portrayal of Shakespeare's wife Agnes in director Chloe Zhao's "Hamnet." The film also won the award for Outstanding British Film. "Sinners," which had been a strong rival in the Best Film race, ended up with only three wins: Best Supporting Actress (Wunmi Mosaku), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Original Music.