The 2026 Oscars mixed politics with art: *Mr Nobody Against Putin* won Best Documentary, Sean Penn and Amy Madigan took acting awards, and Paul Thomas Anderson finally got his first Oscar.

A Powerful Political Statement

*Mr Nobody Against Putin*'s win struck a chord at the Dolby Theatre—a rare moment for an awards show usually accused of ignoring world events. The film, a stark and unflinching account from a primary school teacher, Pavel Talankin, vividly documented the systematic indoctrination of his pupils to support Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Talankin's own footage gives us an unflinching look at how war damages kids' minds.

Talankin, exiled in Europe, accepted the award with US co-director David Borenstein. The film triumphed over strong contenders, including the favourite *The Perfect Neighbor*, as well as *The Alabama Solution*, *Come See Me in the Good Light*, and *Cutting Through Rocks*.

Borenstein used his acceptance speech to highlight the film's core message: how a country is lost through "countless, small, little acts of complicity." He spoke of the moral choices faced when governments engage in violence and when media landscapes become controlled by oligarchs, asserting that "even a nobody is more powerful than you think." Talankin, for his part, issued an impassioned plea on behalf of nations where "instead of shooting stars … they have shooting bombs and shooting drones," calling for an immediate end to all wars.

It's the third time in ten years a Russia-critical film won Best Documentary—*Navalny* won in 2023, *20 Days in Mariupol* in 2024. Last year's award went to *No Other Land*, an Israeli-Palestinian co-production. Speaking backstage, Borenstein drew parallels between the political situations in the US and Russia, noting that his Russian colleagues believed "Trump is moving a lot quicker than Putin in his early years."

Acting and Screenwriting Triumphs

The acting awards went to veterans delivering strong performances. Sean Penn won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in *One Battle After Another*. He beat Benicio del Toro, Jacob Elordi, Delroy Lindo, and Stellan Skarsgård.

Mastheads

Amy Madigan took home the Best Supporting Actress award for her performance in *Weapons*. Her fellow nominees were Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (both for *Sentimental Value*), Wunmi Mosaku (*Sinners*), and Teyana Taylor (*One Battle After Another*).

Paul Thomas Anderson finally won an Oscar for screenwriting. Paul Thomas Anderson secured his first ever Academy Award, winning Best Adapted Screenplay for *One Battle After Another*. He beat out screenplays for *Bugonia*, *Frankenstein*, *Hamnet*, and *Train Dreams*. And Ryan Coogler claimed the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for *Sinners*, triumphing over *Blue Moon*, *It Was Just an Accident*, *Marty Supreme*, and *Sentimental Value*.

Breaking Barriers and International Recognition

The ceremony crowned some historic winners and international breakthroughs. Autumn Durald Arkapaw won Best Cinematography for *Sinners*—a historic moment. She beat out *Frankenstein*, *Marty Supreme*, *One Battle After Another*, and *Train Dreams*.

*Sentimental Value* made history as Norway's first Best International Feature winner. A major moment for Norwegian cinema on the world stage. Meanwhile, the animated feature *KPop Demon Hunters* secured the award for Best Animated Feature Film, overcoming *Arco*, *Elio*, *Little Amélie or The Character of Rain*, and *Zootopia 2*.

*Avatar: Fire and Ash* won Best Visual Effects for its technical work. It faced off against *F1*, *Jurassic World Rebirth*, *The Lost Bus*, and *Sinners*.

Craft and Short Film Accolades

Several films dominated the craft awards. *Frankenstein* won Best Costume Design (Kate Hawley) and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. The film also secured the award for Best Production Design. *F1* won Best Sound—essential for a racing film's impact.

Ludwig Göransson received the Best Original Score Oscar for his evocative music in *Sinners*. And Cassandra Kulukundis was recognised for Best Casting for her work on *One Battle After Another*.

The short film awards highlighted new voices and varied stories. *The Girl Who Cried Pearls* was named Best Animated Short Film, while the Best Live Action Short Film category saw a rare joint win for *The Singers* and *Two People Exchanging Saliva*. Finally, *All the Empty Rooms* took home the award for Best Documentary Short Film.

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The Oscars reflected a year where personal stories met global politics, and craft mattered as much as representation.

This article was created with AI assistance.