Ryan Coogler enjoyed another triumphant awards night, winning the BAFTA for Best Original Screenplay for “Sinners.”
The vampire horror film from the “Black Panther” director has enjoyed both huge commercial success and widespread critical acclaim since its April 2025 release.
This winning momentum continued at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, where “Sinners” walked away with a total of three trophies.
Coogler’s personal triumph proved particularly significant, marking a historic moment for a black filmmaker at the BAFTAs.
Almost immediately, industry observers began predicting similar success at the upcoming Oscars.
“Sinners” heads into the Oscars with an impressive 16 nominations, with the ceremony scheduled for March 15, 2026.
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Ryan Coogler becomes first black BAFTA winner for original screenplay
Coogler’s win for best original screenplay at the 2026 BAFTAs was the first won by a black filmmaker.
Woody Allen holds the record for most wins (four) in the category, recognized for screenplays such as “Broadway Danny Rose” and “Husbands and Wives.”
Other notable winners include Nora Ephron for “When Harry Met Sally,” Quentin Tarantino for “Pulp Fiction” and Paul Thomas Anderson for “Licorice Pizza.”
Receiving his trophy, Coogler admitted he didn’t expect the win, while also paying tribute to his fellow nominees.
“I’m nominated with some incredible writers,” he said. “I’m going to share this with all of you… You’ve all already won by being here.”
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‘Sinners’ triumphs as Wunmi Mosaku wins Best Supporting Actress
In addition to Coogler’s Best Original Screenplay award, another big win for “Sinners” on BAFTA night saw Wunmi Mosaku crowned Best Supporting Actress.
In the film, Mosaku plays Annie, a hoodoo practitioner who is also the ex-wife of Smoke, one of Michael B. Jordan’s twin characters.
During her acceptance speech, the Nigerian-born actress spoke of the deeply personal connection she felt with Annie, comparing the character’s journey to her own experience as an immigrant in Britain.
“I found a part of myself in Annie,” she said. “Part of my hopes, my power and my ancestral connections. Parts of myself that I thought I had lost or tried to obscure as an immigrant trying to fit in.”
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Fans Quickly Turn to Oscar Predictions for ‘Sinners’
“Sinners” also won the BAFTA for Best Original Score, with Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson winning that accolade.
With these three major wins in hand, speculation quickly shifted to the upcoming 98th Academy Awards, where the film is headed for an impressive 16 nominations.
Coogler, Mosaku and Göransson are all Oscar nominees in the same categories they won at the BAFTAs.
Writing on X, one user confidently predicted a similar outcome for the director: “Ryan has this screenplay Oscar in the bag.” »
Coogler is also nominated for Best Director, while the film itself will compete for the night’s biggest honor: Best Picture.
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Ryan Coogler pays tribute to the black filmmakers who inspired him
As Coogler makes history with his BAFTA win for “Sinners,” the director also took the time to recognize the Black filmmakers who have shaped his journey.
In a recent interview with Deadline, Coogler mentioned the names of other directors who have influenced his narrative voice.
“I admire them and their work, especially Spike [Lee]Ava DuVernay, Nia DaCosta, Steve McQueen, Barry Jenkins, Jordan Peele,” he said. “They’re all filmmakers that inspire me, and I feel like it’s beautiful to be able to do things in the time that they’re doing them.”
Coogler also spoke of a deep “sense of connectedness and inspiration” from pioneers like John Singleton, who paved the way for the generation that followed.
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Ryan Coogler focuses on ‘Black Panther 3’ after ‘Sinners’ success
As “Sinners” continues to stand out among 2025 films, Coogler is already looking forward to his next project.
During a panel at Deadline’s Contenders Film event in November 2025, the “Black Panther” writer and director confirmed that a return to Wakanda was next on his list after “Sinners.”
“Black Panther 3” is currently scheduled for release in 2028, although plot, casting and production details remain largely under wraps.
However, Denzel Washington hinted during an appearance on “Today Show Australia” in 2024 that Coogler had written a special role for him in the upcoming installment, a revelation the director later confirmed.
