Following today’s BAFTA Film Award nominations, Irish talent is firmly in the spotlight this awards season, with Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal emerging as two of the most talked-about names.
In a live broadcast from its headquarters this afternoon, BAFTA revealed the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards nominations. A total of 46 films were honored in various categories.
Buckley and Mescal, who are continuing an incredible run for their critically acclaimed film Hamnet, are among the headline-grabbing performances.
Jessie Buckley, a native of Killarney, has been nominated for Best Leading Actress at the BAFTA Awards, adding to her already impressive list of achievements. Among this year’s impressive group of acting candidates is Buckley, a former BAFTA Breakthrough and EE Rising Star nominee.
Paul Mescal, on the other hand, continues to rise to prominence as one of the most sought-after actors in the business today. His portrayal of William Shakespeare earned him a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
The fact that the Maynooth actor is one of the nominees highlights yet another outstanding year for Irish acting talent abroad.
Both director Chloé Zhao and Hamnet author Maggie O’Farrell, who was born in Coleraine, have been nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for their work on the film adaptation of the best-selling book.
Ireland’s own Cillian Murphy is the producer and star of the Netflix drama Steve, which is also a nominee for Outstanding British Film.
One member of the team shortlisted for their work on Avatar: Fire and Ash is Richard Baneham of Ireland, who has already won two BAFTAs and an Oscar.
Donegal writer-director Myrid Carten’s highly regarded documentary, A Want in Her, was nominated for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer.
Actors Aimee Lou Wood and David Jonsson announced the nominations, and BAFTA affirmed that all genres of films are represented, from big blockbusters to intimate indies.
It’s One Battle After Another to lead the pack. Another received fourteen nominations, Sinners came in second with thirteen, and Hamnet and Marty Supreme each received eleven.
This year’s announcement also revealed a number of noteworthy milestones.
Six current and former EE Rising Stars, including Buckley, are among the nominees, and eight performers received their first-ever BAFTA Film nominations. Josh Safdie and Ryan Coogler received their first BAFTA directing nominations in the directing categories.
This year’s “bold storytelling and exquisite craft” were praised by BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip, while Chair Sara Putt emphasized the power of British independent film alongside international box office triumphs.
