Girls On Film Awards 2026 Celebrate Women’s Voices Across Cinema

Recognition for women-led filmmaking took a decisive shape this week as the 2026 Girls On Film Awards nominations set out a competitive and wide-ranging field. Leading the pack are Sorry, Baby and Wicked: For Good, which emerge as the most cited titles of the year with six nominations each, signalling strong support across both creative and technical categories.

The announcement was made in London by co-founders Anna Smith and Hedda Lornie Archbold, confirming a diverse field that spans first-time filmmakers, established auteurs and a broad range of craft disciplines often overlooked elsewhere.

This year’s nominations position Hamnet and Sinners close behind with four nominations each, while Die My Love, Dragonfly, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You and The Chronology of Water have all landed three apiece. The shortlisted films reflect a wide spectrum of genres and styles, united by a focus on complex women on screen and the creative labour behind the camera.

Performance categories highlight a competitive year, with recognised contenders including Jessie Buckley for Hamnet, Cynthia Erivo for Wicked: For Good, Andrea Riseborough for Dragonfly and Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. In supporting roles, Ariana Grande’s continued transition into film acting has been acknowledged alongside Naomi Ackie, Maxine Peake and Teyana Taylor.

Behind the camera, the nominations underline the awards’ commitment to celebrating technical achievement. Cinematography nods include Autumn Durald Arkapaw for Sinners and Alice Brooks for Wicked: For Good, while Hildur Guðnadóttir and Rachel Portman feature among the composers recognised. A newly introduced Best Editing category further expands the craft focus, reflecting Girls On Film’s stated mission to address historic gaps in awards recognition.

The Intimacy Award returns with a refined remit, honouring collaborative work that prioritises responsible and affirmative representation of women’s pleasure on screen. Nominees range from studio productions such as Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy to genre titles including Sinners, reinforcing the category’s cross-industry relevance.

The fifth annual ceremony will take place on Monday 2 February 2026 at the Curzon Bloomsbury in London, supported by partners including IMDb, Netflix and EON Productions, with media backing from Deadline and British Cinematographer. With eligibility covering UK theatrical releases from February 2025 to February 2026, the awards continue to carve out a distinct space within the season, foregrounding inclusion, authorship and visibility rather than box office or campaign weight.
For more information, visit girlsonfilm.org.uk/girls-on-film-awards