Three specially commissioned films highlight the role of BAFTA members in inspiring the next generation of talent
A game-changing actor meets a VFX expert, a wildlife cinematographer meets the writer of Drive and a composer meets a games artist
Films feature Jodie Whittaker, Frazer Churchill, Sophie Darlington, Hossein Amini, Christopher Barnett and Anna Hollinrake
London, 5 December: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has today revealed its new intake of BAFTA members for 2018. The 386 new members span the film, games and television industries across 11 countries and include high profile acting talent, recent BAFTA winners and nominees across a range of craft categories, and individuals who have benefitted from BAFTA’s new talent initiatives including BAFTA Breakthrough Brits and the BAFTA Scholarships Programme.
To accompany the announcement of the new members, BAFTA has released three specially-commissioned short films featuring intimate conversations between new and existing BAFTA members, providing insight into their crafts, and describing how, through BAFTA, they have been inspired to inspire others.
In one of the films, actor and new BAFTA member Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who, Broadchurch, Attack the Block) is in conversation with the BAFTA-nominated visual effects supervisor Frazer Churchill (Children of Men, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Wonder Woman). The pair discuss what being a BAFTA member means to them, breaking into the industry from non-traditional backgrounds, and how BAFTA nurtures and supports careers.
Renowned wildlife cinematographer and new BAFTA member Sophie Darlington, part of the BAFTA-winning camera team on The Hunt and whose other credits include Planet Earth II and Dynasties, is in conversation with BAFTA-nominated screenwriter Hossein Amini (Drive, The Wings of the Dove, Snow White and the Huntsman). They discuss how their particular disciplines contribute to storytelling, and the value of mentoring emerging talent.
Composer and new BAFTA member Christopher Barnett (A Cock & Bull Story, Borrowed Time, Modern British Slavery) speaks to games artist and BAFTA Breakthrough Brit Anna Hollinrake (Lola and the Giant, Adventure Time, Magic: The Gathering) about how the cross-sector nature of BAFTA has inspired creativity in their own work.
The films are directed by BAFTA member Amanda Blue, who took part in the BAFTA Elevate programme for female directors in 2017, and edited by BAFTA member Rebecca Lloyd, a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit honouree in 2016.
The new BAFTA members join a community of 8,000 creatives and professionals working within the film, games and television industries across the globe. New members in 2018 include: BAFTA-winning actor Hugh Grant; BAFTA-nominated actor Willem Dafoe; games designer and BAFTA Fellow Tim Schafer; BAFTA Breakthrough Brit Letitia Wright; BAFTA-winning film producer Jordan Horowitz; BAFTA-nominated broadcaster Sandi Toksvig; BAFTA-winning make-up artist Lucy Sibbick; BAFTA-nominated actor Hayley Squires; BAFTA-nominated director and BAFTA Breakthrough Brit Francis Lee; and game producer Katherine Bidwell, co-founder of the BAFTA-winning game studio State of Play. Also included are rising stars from BAFTA’s new talent initiatives such as producer Rienkje Attoh, a recipient of the Prince William Scholarship in Film, Television and Games, supported by BAFTA and Warner Bros., in 2013.
Amanda Berry OBE, Chief Executive of BAFTA, said: “We’re delighted to welcome our new members to BAFTA. Our members represent the breadth of the ever-evolving film, games and television industries. They sit at the heart of everything BAFTA does, from mentoring emerging talent, voting in the Awards, sharing knowledge and experience at events and online on BAFTA Guru, and making up BAFTA’s Board and committees. With their involvement we are able to inspire the next generation of talent, as well as support the future of our industries.”
For the full list of new members, and to watch the films go to: www.bafta.org/new-members
–Ends–
For further information, please contact:
Harriet Black at BAFTA
T: +44 (0) 20 792 5863
E: [email protected]
Notes to Editors:
The films can be embedded via BAFTA’s YouTube page
For images, logos, accreditation, transcripts and more, visit www.bafta.org/media-centre
About BAFTA
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is a world-leading independent arts charity that brings the very best work in film, games and television to public attention and supports the growth of creative talent in the UK and internationally. Through its Awards ceremonies and year-round programme of learning events and initiatives – which includes workshops, masterclasses, scholarships, lectures and mentoring schemes in the UK, USA and Asia – BAFTA identifies and celebrates excellence, discovers, inspires and nurtures new talent, and enables learning and creative collaboration. For advice and inspiration from the best creative minds in working in film, games and television, visit www.bafta.org/guru. For more, visit www.bafta.org.
