Ryan Coogler’s Historic BAFTA Win Fuels Oscar Buzz

Ryan Coogler loved one other triumphant awards night time as he scooped up the Greatest Authentic Screenplay BAFTA for “Sinners.”

The “Black Panther” director’s vampire horror flick has loved each large industrial success and widespread vital acclaim since its launch in April 2025.

That profitable momentum carried over to the 79thBritish Academy Film Awards, the place “Sinners” walked away with a complete of three trophies.

Coogler’s private triumph proved particularly important, marking a history-making second for a black filmmaker on the BAFTAs.

Virtually instantly, trade watchers started predicting comparable success on the upcoming Academy Awards.

“Sinners” heads into the Oscars with a formidable 16 nominations, with the ceremony scheduled for March 15, 2026.

Coogler’s victory for the Greatest Authentic Screenplay on the 2026 BAFTAs was the primary ever by a Black filmmaker.

Woody Allen holds the document for probably the most wins (4) within the class, acknowledged for scripts together with “Broadway Danny Rose” and “Husbands and Wives.”

Different notable previous winners embody Nora Ephron for “When Harry Met Sally,” Quentin Tarantino for “Pulp Fiction,” and Paul Thomas Anderson for “Licorice Pizza.”

As he obtained his trophy, Coogler admitted that he hadn’t anticipated the win, whereas additionally paying tribute to his fellow nominees.

“I am nominated with some unbelievable writers,” he stated. “I will share this with y’all… Y’all already gained by being right here.”

In addition to Coogler’s Greatest Authentic Screenplay, one other large win for “Sinners” on BAFTAs night time noticed Wunmi Mosaku topped as Greatest Supporting Actress.

Within the movie, Mosaku portrays Annie, a hoodoo practitioner who can also be the estranged spouse of Smoke, considered one of Michael B. Jordan’s twin characters.

Throughout her acceptance speech, the Nigerian-born actress mirrored on the deeply private connection she felt to Annie, evaluating the character’s journey to her personal expertise as an immigrant in Britain.

“I discovered part of myself in Annie,” she stated. “Part of my hopes, my ancestral energy and connection. Components of myself I assumed I might misplaced or tried to dim as an immigrant making an attempt to slot in.”

“Sinners” additionally secured the BAFTA for Greatest Authentic Rating, with Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson taking residence the accolade.

With these three main wins within the bag, hypothesis rapidly shifted in direction of the upcoming 98th Academy Awards, the place the movie heads in with a formidable 16 nominations.

Coogler, Mosaku, and Göransson are all nominated on the Oscars in the identical classes as these they conquered on the BAFTAs.

Writing on X, one person confidently predicted the same final result for the director: “Ryan has that screenplay Oscar within the bag.”

Coogler can also be nominated for Greatest Director, whereas the movie itself will compete for the night time’s prime honor – Greatest Image.

As Coogler makes historical past together with his BAFTA win for “Sinners,” the director has additionally taken time to acknowledge the Black filmmakers who formed his journey.

In a current interview with Deadline, Coogler talked about the names of different administrators who’ve influenced his storytelling voice.

“I look as much as them and their work, particularly Spike [Lee], Ava DuVernay, Nia DaCosta, Steve McQueen, Barry Jenkins, Jordan Peele,” he stated. “These are all filmmakers that I get impressed by, and I really feel prefer it’s lovely that I get to make issues within the time that they’re making them.”