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BAFTA and Warner Bros. to Support New Prince William Scholarships in Film, Television and Games

26 April 2013
Prince William says a few words about the British Academy Film Awards Fellowship (BAFTA/Brian Ritchie). BAFTA/Brian Ritchie

New scholarships announced at today’s inauguration of Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in the presence of HRH The Duke of Cambridge, President of BAFTA.

On the day the state-of-the-art film and television production facility, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden is being inaugurated by TRHs The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and Warner Bros. announce the creation of the Prince William Scholarships in Film, Television and Games.

The three annual Prince William Scholarships, applications for which open today, will assist talented people in need of financial support to study a post-graduate course in one of the three industries. Successful applicants will each receive up to £10,000 to cover their course fees and receive mentoring support, free access to BAFTA events around the UK, and a funded work placement within the Warner Bros. group of companies.

The partnership between BAFTA and Warner Bros. is a demonstration of both organisations’ commitment to investing in future talent. The Prince William Scholarships form a key part of Warner Bros. Creative Talent, a multi-layered nationwide investment programme in skills and training for the UK’s creative industries, and build upon BAFTA’s successful BAFTA Scholarship Programme, which began in 2012.

Applications for the Prince William Scholarships in Film, Television and Games, supported by BAFTA and Warner Bros., are now being accepted here: BAFTA Scholarships Application.
The deadline for applications is Monday 17 June 2013.

Amanda Berry OBE, Chief Executive of BAFTA, said: “BAFTA is delighted to be partnering with Warner Bros. on the Prince William Scholarships in Film, Television and Games. Working together, we can provide vital financial support and industry experience to individuals whose talents might otherwise be lost to our industry. BAFTA’s President, HRH The Duke of Cambridge believes that everyone deserves a chance to shine, and we are immensely proud he has chosen to be associated with this initiative, which builds upon the existing BAFTA Scholarship Programme. We hope that the scholarship recipients will become the mentors of the future, and be in a position to give back to others from similar backgrounds.”

Josh Berger CBE, President & Managing Director, Warner Bros. UK, Ireland and Spain, said, “To ensure continued success for the UK’s creative industries, we’re determined to play a key role in finding, funding and nurturing talent from all backgrounds. This exciting partnership with BAFTA will help us to do just that by providing opportunities for talented young people to not only learn about, but also experience the broad range of sectors that both organisations are renowned for.”


Further Information

For further information about BAFTA please contact Kindred Agency

Hollie Rendall | Tel 020 7010 0829 | Email

Rosie Mann | Tel 020 7010 0843 | Email

For further information about Warner Bros. please contact...

Deborah Lincoln | Tel 07879 484944 | Email

Dan Winter| Tel 07956 241684 | Email


About BAFTA

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is an independent charity that supports, develops and promotes the art forms of the moving image by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public. In addition to its Awards ceremonies, BAFTA has a year-round Learning & Events programme that offers unique access to some of the world’s most inspiring talent through workshops, masterclasses, lectures and mentoring schemes, connecting with audiences of all ages and backgrounds across the UK, Los Angeles and New York. BAFTA relies on income from membership subscriptions, individual donations, trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships to support its ongoing outreach work. For further information, visit www.bafta.org and to access the best creative minds in film, TV and games production visit www.bafta.org/guru.


About the BAFTA Scholarship Programme

The BAFTA Scholarship Programme was launched in 2012 to assist talented people in need of financial support to study a post-graduate course in film, television or games. Each BAFTA Scholar receives up to £10,000 to cover their course fees for a year, mentoring support from BAFTA members, and free access to BAFTA events around the UK. In return, the students share their learning experiences on BAFTA Guru (www.bafta.org/guru), BAFTA’s online learning channel, and participate in future BAFTA outreach to young people.

BAFTA will work with Warner Bros. to identify the recipients of the Prince William Scholarships in Film, Television and Games from applicants to the wider BAFTA Scholarship Programme, which is now accepting applications for the 2013/2014 academic year at http.

In 2012, the first year of the BAFTA Scholarship Programme, the six students received mentoring from BAFTA members, award-winners and nominees including Lucy Lumsden, Head of Comedy at Sky, documentary-maker Brian Woods (China’s Stolen Children), writer Peter Moffat (Silk, The Village), dubbing mixer George Foulgham (Project Nim, Brazil with Michael Palin), cinematographer Lol Crawley (Four Lions, The Crimson Petal and the White), and cinematographer Tristan Oliver (ParaNorman, Chicken Run).

The BAFTA Scholarship Programme is open to UK citizens on eligible UK courses. BAFTA also administers two US-based scholarships programmes through its branches in Los Angeles and New York.

Quotes from previous BAFTA Scholarship recipients:

“Being a BAFTA Scholar has provided me with the perfect introduction into the film industry and I have met some very important and exciting people so far. Obviously to be recognised by such a prestigious institution is an honour, one that I am still getting to grips with and learning from.” - Luke Stapleton, MA Screenwriting at Liverpool John Moores University

“Thanks to the BAFTA Scholarship, I have been without worries financially, and able to concentrate fully on my MA and final film.” - Daisy Jacobs, MA Directing Animation at the National Film and Television School (NFTS)

“The BAFTA scholarship has proven to be one of the most exciting, educationally interesting, and inspiring experiences. I have gained insight from both creative minds within television, film, and games, as well as meeting personal heroes, being offered much in the way of support and tuition, and seeing up close the processes involved in making some of my favourite programmes; all of which has helped in gaining deeper understanding of creating stories for the screen.” - Michael Concannon, MA Producing and Directing Television Entertainment at the NFTS


About Warner Bros.

WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. is a fully integrated, broad-based entertainment company and a global leader in the creation, production, distribution, licensing and marketing of all forms of entertainment and their related businesses. A Time Warner Company, Warner Bros. Entertainment stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry from feature films to television, home entertainment/DVD, animation, product and brand licensing and interactive entertainment.


About Warner Bros. Creative Talent

Launching in September 2013, the Warner Bros. Creative Talent Programme will support the next generation of UK creative industries’ talent with scholarships attached to work placements and mentoring, apprenticeships and training courses, giving young people of all backgrounds invaluable industry experience and insight across its UK film, TV, games and theatre operations.

The multi-layered, nationwide investment encompasses twelve scholarships at some of the country’s most respected higher education institutions

  • ; six apprenticeships with roles ranging from set-lighting to post-production; twenty five, year-long training course places for young people at inclusive theatre company, Chickenshed; twenty work experience places for schools local to Warner Bros.’ London HQ; five work placements on the upcoming West End musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with the most talented of the students receiving an additional three month placement; and two trainee positions on every Warner Bros. film production in the UK.

In addition, following the BFI’s recent announcement regarding its film education scheme, Warner Bros. and FILM NATION UK will be collaborating to inspire and educate thousands of school children around the country about the film industry.

The Warner Bros. Creative Talent Programme is part of Warner Bros.’ long-term commitment to the UK’s creative industries, which has seen significant, recent investment in Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden; in TV production company, Shed Media; in leading video games companies Rocksteady Studios and TT Games; in Soho post-production house, De Lane Lea; in the forthcoming West End musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; and in Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter.


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