Ryan Coogler’s Historic BAFTA Win Fuels Oscar Buzz

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

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

That successful momentum carried over to the 79thBritish Academy Movie Awardsthe 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, business watchers started predicting related success on the upcoming Academy Awards.

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

Coogler’s victory for the Finest 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 received by being right here.”

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

Within the movie, Mosaku portrays Annie, a hoodoo practitioner who can be the estranged spouse of Smoke, one among 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. Elements of myself I assumed I might misplaced or tried to dim as an immigrant attempting to slot in.”

“Sinners” additionally secured the BAFTA for Finest 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 Awardsthe place the movie heads in with a powerful 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 Xone consumer confidently predicted an analogous final result for the director: “Ryan has that screenplay Oscar within the bag.”

Coogler can be nominated for Finest Director, whereas the movie itself will compete for the evening’s high honor – Finest 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 latest interview with DeadlineCoogler 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 stunning that I get to make issues within the time that they’re making them.”