Ryan Coogler’s Historic BAFTA Win Fuels Oscar Buzz

Ryan Coogler enjoyed another triumphant awards night as he scooped up the Best Original Screenplay BAFTA for “Sinners.”

The “Black Panther” director’s vampire horror flick has enjoyed both massive commercial success and widespread critical acclaim since its release in April 2025.

That winning momentum carried over to the 79thBritish Academy Film Awards, where “Sinners” walked away with a total of three trophies.

Coogler’s personal triumph proved especially significant, marking a history-making moment for a black filmmaker at the BAFTAs.

Almost immediately, industry watchers began predicting similar success at the upcoming Academy Awards.

“Sinners” heads into the Oscars with an impressive 16 nominations, with the ceremony scheduled for March 15, 2026.

Coogler’s victory for the Best Original Screenplay at the 2026 BAFTAs was the first ever by a Black filmmaker.

Woody Allen holds the record for the most wins (four) in the category, recognized for scripts including “Broadway Danny Rose” and “Husbands and Wives.”

Other notable past winners include Nora Ephron for “When Harry Met Sally,” Quentin Tarantino for “Pulp Fiction,” and Paul Thomas Anderson for “Licorice Pizza.”

As he received his trophy, Coogler admitted that he hadn’t expected the win, while also paying tribute to his fellow nominees.

“I’m nominated with some incredible writers,” he said. “I’ll share this with y’all… Y’all already won by being here.”

As well as Coogler’s Best Original Screenplay, another big win for “Sinners” on BAFTAs night saw Wunmi Mosaku crowned as Best Supporting Actress.

In the film, Mosaku portrays Annie, a hoodoo practitioner who is also the estranged wife of Smoke, one of Michael B. Jordan’s twin characters.

During her acceptance speech, the Nigerian-born actress reflected on the deeply personal connection she felt to 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. “A part of my hopes, my ancestral power and connection. Parts of myself I thought I’d lost or tried to dim as an immigrant trying to fit in.”

“Sinners” also secured the BAFTA for Best Original Score, with Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson taking home the accolade.

With those three major wins in the bag, speculation quickly shifted towards the upcoming 98th Academy Awards, where the film heads in with an impressive 16 nominations.

Coogler, Mosaku, and Göransson are all nominated at the Oscars in the same categories as those they conquered at the BAFTAs.

Writing on X, one user confidently predicted a similar outcome for the director: “Ryan has that screenplay Oscar in the bag.”

Coogler is also nominated for Best Director, while the film itself will compete for the night’s top honor – Best Picture.

As Coogler makes history with his BAFTA win for “Sinners,” the director has also taken time to acknowledge the Black filmmakers who shaped his journey.

In a recent interview with Deadline, Coogler mentioned the names of other directors who have influenced his storytelling voice.

“I look up to them and their work, specifically Spike [Lee], Ava DuVernay, Nia DaCosta, Steve McQueen, Barry Jenkins, Jordan Peele,” he said. “These are all filmmakers that I get inspired by, and I feel like it’s beautiful that I get to make things in the time that they are making them.”

Coogler also spoke about a deep “sense of connectedness and inspiration” from trailblazers like John Singleton, who paved the way for the generation that followed.

While “Sinners” continues to stand out among 2025 films, Coogler is already looking ahead 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 is next on his slate after “Sinners.”

“Black Panther 3” is currently scheduled for release in 2028, though plot, casting, and production details remain largely under wraps.

However, Denzel Washington hinted during a 2024 appearance on “Today Show Australia” that Coogler had written a special role for him in the upcoming installment, a revelation the director later confirmed.