Ryan Coogler has made BAFTA history.

At the 79th EE BAFTA Film Awards, held on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at London’s Royal Festival Hall, the Oakland-born filmmaker secured a landmark victory as Sinners claimed three awards, including Best Original Screenplay. With the win, Coogler became the first Black filmmaker to receive the honour in the category.

The achievement marks another career-defining moment for the director, whose genre-bending vampire thriller has continued to gather momentum throughout awards season. Fresh off a record-breaking 16 Academy Award nominations, Sinners further cemented its place in BAFTA history.

Beyond Coogler’s personal triumph, the film itself set a new benchmark. Sinners now stands as the most-decorated film directed by a Black filmmaker in BAFTA history, surpassing the previous record held by 12 Years a Slave. While Steve McQueen’s acclaimed drama secured two wins in 2016, Sinners claimed three awards from 13 nominations — also the highest number of BAFTA nods ever for a film helmed by a Black director.

Accepting the screenplay award, Coogler appeared visibly moved.

“I didn’t expect that. This is nerve-racking,” he admitted.
“I come from a community that loves me. They made me believe that I could do this, that I could be a writer… For all the writers out there, when you look at that blank page, think of who you love. Let that love motivate you.”
Coogler triumphed over strong competition from I Swear, Marty Supreme, The Secret Agent, and Sentimental Value.

Cast and collaborators share the spotlight

Wunmi Mosaku won best supporting actress Bafta for her role in sinners.

The film’s success extended beyond its director. Wunmi Mosaku earned Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Annie, while longtime Coogler collaborator Ludwig Göransson secured Best Original Score, continuing the composer-director duo’s celebrated creative partnership.

Critics have praised Sinners for its ability to blend genre spectacle with emotional and thematic depth — a balance that has become a hallmark of Coogler’s filmmaking.

Momentum ahead of the Oscars

The BAFTA victories arrive at a crucial moment for Sinners, now considered a major contender at the 98th Academy Awards. Coogler will again face familiar rivals, including Marty Supreme and Sentimental Value, alongside Blue Moon and It Was Just an Accident in the Best Original Screenplay race.

Released in April 2025, Sinners debuted to critical acclaim before becoming a commercial success, grossing US$369 million worldwide against a production budget estimated between US$90–100 million.

The film is also competing for Best Picture, joining a slate of nominees that includes Bugonia, Frankenstein, Hamnet, and Train Dreams.

Final Oscar voting is scheduled from February 26 to March 5, with the ceremony set for March 15, 2026.

A symbolic moment for representation

Coogler’s victory also lands within the BAFTAs’ ongoing reckoning with diversity and representation — a conversation that has shaped recent reforms in membership and voting procedures.

Whether Sinners’ success signals a broader shift will become clearer in the seasons ahead. What is certain, however, is that Coogler’s historic win represents a notable and symbolic moment on one of cinema’s most prominent stages.