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Movie written and directed by Bristol filmmaker shines at BAFTAs
A film by the award-winning Bristol director Kirk Jones has won two awards at Sunday’s BAFTA ceremony.
The BAFTAs, celebrating excellence in film, returned for their 79th year at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
I, Swear, written and directed by Bristol-born filmmaker Kirk Jones, picked up the BAFTA for Best Casting, awarded to Lauren Evans, and also claimed one of the night’s most hotly anticipated gongs, Best Actor.
Robert Aramayo stunned the audience by seeing off the Hollywood A-listers Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke, Michael B Jordan, Jesse Plemons and Timothée Chalamet to take home the Best Actor award.
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Fighting back tears as he accepted the award from Kerry Washington, Aramayo thanked Jones for his “vision, brilliance and collaboration” and his “passion to bring this to the screen”.
Aramayo also won the EE Rising Star award decided by the public vote.
However, the night was not without controversy as a racial slur was shouted at Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo while they were on presenting duties. The incident was attributed to “an attendee with Tourette syndrome”.
A spokesperson said: “Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards 2026.
“This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and was not intentional. We apologise for any offence caused by the language heard.”
The film tells the true story of Scottish Tourette campaigner John Davidson, who was previously the subject of the 1989 BBC documentary John’s Not Mad.
When I, Swear hit the screens, it received rave reviews, with Simon Brew describing it as “a film that might change someone’s life”, while Mark Kermode praised its balance of humour and sensitivity, avoiding “cheap sentimentality and melodrama”.
The film received six BAFTA nominations, including Outstanding British Film, which went to Hamnet, as well as Original Screenplay for Jones and Best Supporting Actor for Peter Mullan, with the award going to Sean Penn.
The subject of the movie – Tourette’s – is a neurological condition affecting some 300,000 people in the UK. It involves involuntary movements and sounds known as tics, which can include blinking, grimacing and swearing.
The film opens with Aramayo as Davidson preparing to receive an MBE from the Queen for his campaigning work, while deeply worrying he might use expletives in front of Her Majesty.
The cast also includes Maxine Peake.
Jones, who was born in Bristol and grew up in Long Ashton, studied at Backwell School and Filton Technical College before enrolling at Newport Film School.
Jones, a seasoned director, has worked with the likes of Emma Thompson, James Nesbitt, Colin Firth, Derek Jacobi and Angela Lansbury.
Jones directed Nanny McPhee with Emma Thompson in the titular role – photo: Kirk Jones
His directorial credits include Nanny McPhee, starring Emma Thompson in the titular role, and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, a generational phenomenon.
His first film Waking Ned, starring Ian Bannen, David Kelly, Fionnula Flanagan and James Nesbitt, earned a BAFTA for Best Newcomer in 2000.
The making of I, Swear was as compelling as the film itself: Jones took a calculated risk by selling the family home he had shared with his wife Cindy for 20 years to help finance the project after major financiers proved hesitant.
The personal gamble paid off at the biggest night in British cinema, fetching further endorsements to Jones’ filmmaking.
Before the BAFTA triumph, I, Swear was shortlisted in nine categories at the British Independent Film Awards 2025, which won the Best Actor and Best Casting awards.
I, Swear was written and directed by Jones – photo: Kirk Jones
Deeply connected to his Bristol roots, Jones commended Bristol for “its community and character” in an interview with Bristol UNESCO City of Film.
Main photo: BBC/ BAFTA
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