The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards turned into a historic night for filmmaker Ryan Coogler, who walked away with one of the biggest prizes of the evening. The writer-director won the award for Best Original Screenplay for his vampire horror drama ‘Sinners’, becoming the first Black winner in this category in the history of the British Academy awards.
The win happened on February 22, 2026, at the ceremony held at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Coogler’s victory was one of the most talked-about moments of the night, as he beat out a competitive field of international writers to take home the bronze mask .
A Shocked And Grateful Ryan Coogler Accepts The Award
When Ryan Coogler walked up to the stage to accept his BAFTA, he looked genuinely surprised. The crowd gave him a loud applause as he stood behind the podium, trying to gather his thoughts.
“I didn’t expect that,” Coogler admitted right away. “This is nerve-wracking” .
Instead of giving a long speech about the film industry, Coogler kept his words personal and down-to-earth. He talked about the people who helped him believe in himself as a writer long before he ever made it to awards shows like the BAFTAs.
“I come from a community that loves me,” he said. “They made me believe that I could do this, that I could be a writer. And it was amazing to be accepted into the community of film actors, the community of Los Angeles” .
He also took a moment to speak directly to other writers who might be struggling with their work. His advice was simple but powerful.
“For all the writers out there, when y’all look at that blank page, think of who you love, think of anybody who you’ve seen in pain that you identify with and wish they felt better and let that love motivate you. I’ll be forever grateful for this, thank you all” .
The Tough Competition Coogler Beat For The BAFTA
Winning the Best Original Screenplay BAFTA was no easy task this year. Ryan Coogler faced some serious heavyweights in the category. The other nominated films included:
- I Swear written by Kirk Jones
- Marty Supreme written by Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie
- The Secret Agent written by Kleber Mendonça Filho
- Sentimental Value written by Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier .
All of these films had strong seasons, making Coogler’s win even more impressive. The fact that a horror film like ‘Sinners’ took home the award for writing showed how much the British Academy respected the depth and originality of his script .
‘Sinners’ Had A Huge Night With Three BAFTA Wins
‘Sinners’ did not just stop with the screenplay award. The film ended the night with three BAFTA wins, making it the most awarded movie ever by a Black director at the British Academy awards. The previous record was held by Steve McQueen’s ‘12 Years a Slave’, which won two BAFTAs back in 2014 .
The other two wins for the film went to:
- Wunmi Mosaku for Best Supporting Actress
- Ludwig Göransson for Best Original Score .
With 13 nominations going into the ceremony, ‘Sinners’ was already the most nominated film directed by a Black filmmaker in BAFTA history. Walking away with three wins solidified its place in the awards season conversation .
What This BAFTA Win Means For The Oscars Race
Now all eyes are on the Academy Awards. The Oscars 2026 are set to take place on March 15, and Ryan Coogler is in a strong position to take home more gold.
At the Oscars, Coogler will face some of the same competitors he just beat at the BAFTAs, including ‘Marty Supreme’ and ‘Sentimental Value’. The other films nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars are ‘Blue Moon’ and ‘It Was Just an Accident’ .
History is also on people’s minds right now. Only one Black writer has ever won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. That was Jordan Peele, who won for another horror film, ‘Get Out’, back in 2017. If Coogler wins on March 15, he will become only the second Black screenwriter to achieve this at the Academy Awards .
‘Sinners’ Shattered Records Even Before The BAFTAs
Before the BAFTAs even started, ‘Sinners’ was already making headlines. The film received a staggering 16 Oscar nominations, breaking the all-time record for the most nominations ever given to a single movie. It surpassed records previously held by films like ‘La La Land’, ‘Titanic’, and ‘All About Eve’, which each had 14 nominations .
The movie, which released in April 2025, stars Michael B. Jordan and mixes horror with real-life social themes. It earned around $368 million globally, proving that original stories can still bring in big box office numbers without being a sequel or adaptation .
A Night Of Highs And A Disturbing Moment On Stage
While Ryan Coogler’s win was a proud moment, the BAFTA ceremony also had a shocking incident involving the cast of ‘Sinners’.
When actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage to present the award for Best Visual Effects, a man in the audience shouted a racial slur at them. The actors paused briefly but continued with their presenting duties .
The man was later identified as John Davidson, a Tourette’s syndrome activist. He is the subject of the BAFTA-nominated film ‘I Swear’, and his outbursts were later explained by host Alan Cumming as being related to his condition.
“You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people as the film [I Swear] explores that experience,” Cumming explained to the audience. “Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone” .
Davidson reportedly left the ceremony about halfway through the night on his own.
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Ryan Coogler’s Journey From Oakland To BAFTA History
For audiences who have followed Ryan Coogler’s career, this BAFTA win feels like the next step in a journey that started with small independent films. He first gained attention with ‘Fruitvale Station’ back in 2013, then went on to direct ‘Creed’ and the blockbuster ‘Black Panther’.
With ‘Sinners’, Coogler returned to more personal storytelling while still delivering a film that connected with global audiences. His speech at the BAFTAs, where he talked about love and community, reminded people why his films feel different from typical Hollywood projects.
As the Oscars get closer, one thing is clear. Ryan Coogler has already made history, and whatever happens on March 15, his name is now permanently in the BAFTA record books as the first Black winner of the Best Original Screenplay award.
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