Rewind: Debut Films through the years

Making your first feature-length film is a big moment. It’s a significant milestone that gives directors a chance to show their unique vision to the world. With just a couple more weeks until the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director or Producer winner is announced we hit rewind and have a look at some of the films that have come before as well as looking ahead to this year’s nominated films…

The first title to receive the Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director or Producer BAFTA was the dramatic space film Moon in 2010. The story of a solo astronaut suffering hallucinations as he nears the end of a three-year solitary mission Moon is a psychologically arresting sci-fi film in the traditional sense. It may be low on special effects but it’s high on tension.

Fast forward to 2025 and comedy-drama Kneecap grabbed viewer’s attention with its fictionalised origin story of a very real Belfast hip-hop trio. Showing how the group has used music as a way of bringing the Irish language to a new audience Kneecap is an excitingly funny and political feature debut.

One thing that has always made the Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director or Producer category stand out is its ability to celebrate a wide-range of themes. This includes everything from an almost too surreal to be true documentary like The Imposter, about a con artist impersonating a missing boy, to the fictional tale of a child denounced as a witch in I am not a Witch. And powerful semi-autobiographical stories like that of a young woman’s heart-wrenching reflection on a childhood vacation with her estranged father in Aftersun.

This year’s nominated films run the gauntlet of drama, romance and documentary.

Meet this year’s nominees…

• The Ceremony
• My Father’s Shadow
• Pillion
• A Want In Her
• Wasteman

The 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards will be announced on 22 February. The awards are one of the most highly anticipated nights on the global film calendar.  You can see this year’s list of nominated films now.

Get ready ahead of time by exploring this year’s nominees and share which films you are most excited to see nominated on socials and make sure to tag @BAFTA.  You can also check out where to watch the action on our Public FAQs page.