Timothée Chalamet's Oscar Chances Hurt by BAFTA Upset

BAFTA night shook up a crowded awards season and delivered a surprising setback for Timothée Chalamet. He entered the evening as the presumed frontrunner in Best Actor after wins at the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes for his turn in Josh Safdie’s sports dramedy, but the Leading Actor prize went to Robert Aramayo for Kirk Jones’ I Swear.

Aramayo also took home the EE Rising Star Award, the only BAFTA prize decided by the public. I Swear won’t be eligible for this year’s Oscars — it will qualify for the 99th ceremony because of its U.S. release timing — yet the late-season loss could alter the psychological narrative voters tell themselves as final voting runs Feb.

26–March 5. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another dominated the night with six BAFTAs, including Best Film and Director, plus key craft wins in cinematography and editing, highlighting the film’s below-the-line strength that often signals Oscar momentum.

United States

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