BAFTA 79, an Auteur’s Night: Paul Thomas Anderson Takes Center Stage
London put on its evening wear and, for one night, turned the Southbank into a runway where cinema sheds its industrial skin and becomes spectacle again. The 79th BAFTA Awards — the British “Oscars” — reaffirmed their role as the compass of awards season, balancing measured glamour with a winners’ list that says a great deal about the state of contemporary film.
Dominating the night was One Battle After Another by Paul Thomas Anderson, the evening’s undeniable protagonist with a sweep of major and technical prizes, from Best Film to Best Director: a compact, almost inevitable triumph. Anderson once again proves himself an auteur able to marry ambition with precision, while Sean Penn took home the supporting actor award.
On the acting front, the surprise came in the form of Robert Aramayo, named Best Actor for I Swear, beating out heavy favorites with a performance that feels both fragile and electric. Jessie Buckley commanded the spotlight with Hamnet, also crowned Best British Film, while Sinners carved out a decisive presence with wins for screenplay, score, and Wunmi Mosaku’s intense supporting turn.
Between gothic costumes and animated sequels, the BAFTAs confirm their nature: an elegant observatory where cinema takes its measure before the big leap to Hollywood.
Text: Germano D’Acquisto
Photos: Alessandro Galatoli
