‘One Battle After Another’ wins six prizes including best picture at Britain’s BAFTA film awards

The politically charged action thriller “One Battle After Another” has won six prizes, including best picture at Britain’s BAFTA film awards.

Vampire saga “Sinners” and gothic horror story “Frankenstein” each won three prizes.

Paul Thomas Anderson was named best director for “One Battle After Another.” Jessie Buckley won the best actress prize for “Hamnet,” while Robert Aaramayo took the best actor prize for the British indie film “I Swear,” beating stars including Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet.

The British awards offer clues about who may win at the Academy Awards in Hollywood next month.

Hollywood stars and British celebrities, from Paddington Bear to the Princess of Wales, gathered Sunday for the British Academy Film Awards, where politically charged thriller “One Battle After Another” and blues-steeped epic “Sinners” fought it out for the top prizes.

The two films are both up for best picture and snagged early prizes, with Wunmi Mosaku taking the supporting actress award for “Sinners,” and Sean Penn winning the supporting actor trophy for “One Battle After Another.” “Sinners” writer-director Ryan Coogler also won the prize for best original screenplay, while “One Battle” filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson took the trophy for best adapted screenplay.

The best film nominees are “One Battle After Another,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “Sinners” and “Sentimental Value.” Shakespearean family tragedy “Hamnet” was named best British film — a separate category — and oddsmakers suggested it could beat the front-runners to best picture if British film industry voters respond to the emotionally rich story, earthy English setting and intense performances in Chloé Zhao’s adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s historical novel.

Stars including Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, Cillian Murphy, Glenn Close and Ethan Hawke were among those walking the red carpet outside London’s Royal Festival Hall before a black-tie ceremony hosted by Scottish actor Alan Cumming.

Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales also attended, three days after William’s uncle Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested by police and held for 11 hours over allegations he sent sensitive government information to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The scandal has rocked the royal family, led by King Charles III, though William and Kate remain popular standard-bearers for the monarchy. William is due to present an award in his role as president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.