Paul Thomas Anderson dedicates BAFTA wins to Adam Somner
Paul Thomas Anderson used his Bafta best director acceptance to pay tribute to adam somner, the British assistant director and producer who died in November 2024 after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer a few weeks into production on One Battle After Another.
Anderson’s emotional moment on the Bafta stage
Collecting the best director prize, Anderson first quipped, "I feel like the prettiest girl in the room right now, " drawing laughter, then turned the speech to remembrance. He called Somner "my assistant director and producer for about 20 years, " saying, "He made us all better… so thank you for sending him to me, and thank you for this award. " Anderson also noted that "about three weeks into our film, he found out he was sick, and he made it through production. "
Adam Somner remembered by colleagues
The tribute named Somner clearly: Anderson described him as a Brit who came to work on the film and whose presence shaped the set. The film One Battle After Another, which Somner was working on when he fell ill, lists Leonardo DiCaprio, Chase Infiniti, Teyana Taylor, Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn and Regina Hall among its ensemble.
One Battle After Another’s Bafta haul and awards detail
One Battle After Another earned multiple Baftas the night Anderson won best director and best adapted screenplay; the film was also recognised for editing and cinematography. Sean Penn won best supporting actor for his role in the film but was not present at the ceremony on Sunday to accept the award. The picture had gone into the Baftas leading the pack with 14 nominations.
Other winners and moments from the ceremony
Wunmi Mosaku won best supporting actress, beating nominees including Teyana Taylor for One Battle After Another and Emily Watson for Hamnet. Accepting the prize, Mosaku said, "Thank you Bafta for this incredible honour. To my daughter, you are my greatest teacher. I am so proud of you, everything begins and ends with you. " She added that playing Annie helped her "find a part of myself... my ancestral power and connection" and told director Ryan Coogler, "I felt the presence of the ancestors’ pride and joy daily on your set. " Coogler won the Bafta for best original screenplay, and his film also took the prize for score. Avatar: Fire And Ash won the first award of the night for best visual effects.
Rising stars, outbursts and host remarks
Robert Aramayo won the EE Rising Star award for I Swear and said, "I can't believe this, it really blows my mind. " He referenced Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson, on whom I Swear is based, saying, "John Davidson is the most remarkable person I've ever met and he believes there is so much more we need to learn about Tourette's. In the words of the film, they need support and understanding. " Host Alan Cumming opened the 2026 Bafta film awards saying, "watching films this year was like taking part in a collective nervous breakdown, " and at one point asked for "understanding" as John Davidson shouted strong language and slurs at winners and presenters.
Anderson now adds a Bafta best director trophy to a collection that already includes a best director prize at Cannes, the Silver Lion at Venice and both the Silver and Golden Bear at Berlin; this Bafta is his first in the best director category after earlier nominations for We Will Be Blood and Licorice Pizza.
Looking ahead, One Battle After Another moves from the Baftas to the upcoming Academy Awards with 13 nominations, where the film’s awards-season momentum will next be tested.
