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BAFTA Offers Scholarships to Emerging British Talent

22 February 2015
BAFTA Scholarships ProgrammeBAFTA

Applications now open to BAFTA's UK Scholarship Programme, which assists talented individuals in need of financial support to study a post-graduate course in film, television or games in the UK. 

  • Applications open to study film, television or games at selected UK institutions 
  • Previous recipients include BAFTA-winner and Oscar nominee Daisy Jacobs

London, 23 February: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has today opened applications to the BAFTA Scholarship Programme, which assists talented UK nationals in need of financial support to study a post-graduate course in film, television or games in the UK. Applications for the 2015-16 academic year open today with a deadline of Friday 12 June. Application info available here >

Previous BAFTA Scholarship recipients include director Daisy Jacobs, who this year won a BAFTA and was Oscar-nominated for her short animation The Bigger Picture, which was her graduation project at the National Film and Television School. The BAFTA scholarship enabled Daisy to take the final year of her course: “I couldn't have made The Bigger Picture without the BAFTA scholarship. It's as simple as that,” said Jacobs, who also received mentoring support from BAFTA member and cinematographer Tristan Oliver (Chicken Run, ParaNorman).

Each BAFTA Scholar receives up to £10,000 towards their course fees for a year, mentoring support from a BAFTA member, and free access to BAFTA events around the UK. In return, the scholarship recipients share their learning experiences on BAFTA Guru, BAFTA’s online learning resource, and participate in BAFTA outreach to young people. 

For a third year, three students will each receive one of the Prince William Scholarships in Film, Television and Games, supported by BAFTA and Warner Bros. These scholarships, an integral element of Warner Bros. Creative Talent, Warner Bros.’ investment in UK creative industries’ skills and training, are awarded in the name of HRH The Duke of Cambridge in his role as President of BAFTA. The recipients will have their fees funded by Warner Bros. and will additionally receive a short funded work placement within the Warner Bros. group of companies, access to a Warner Bros. mentor, and invitations to a series of industry masterclasses.

Sara Putt, Chair of BAFTA’s Learning and Events Committee, said: “We believe that talented individuals, whatever their background, should have the opportunity to succeed in our industries. That is why, in addition to offering financial support, BAFTA provides free access to our industry events, and one-to-one mentoring from some of the leading figures in film, television and games. Daisy Jacobs’ success at this year’s BAFTAs and Oscars demonstrates just how important it is to ensure that promising talent isn’t allowed to slip through the net, whether directors, actors or below-the-line craftspeople.”

Josh Berger CBE, President & Managing Director, Warner Bros. UK, Ireland & Spain, said: “This special partnership with BAFTA allows us to give talented students, who otherwise may not have been able to pursue their chosen careers, invaluable insight and experience – along with all-important financial support. Last year’s Prince William Scholars excelled and, having taken full advantage of the opportunities made available to them, are already making their way into the industry. We’re enormously proud of them, and look forward to working with the next recipients of these prestigious scholarships.”

The BAFTA Scholarship Programme, which is now in its fourth year, is part of BAFTA’s charitable activity to support talented people at all stages of their career in film, television and games. The recipients will be selected by a panel of industry professionals following an open call to UK nationals applying for eligible UK courses.

The BAFTA Scholarship Programme has been made possible by the generous support of the Academy Circle, individual donors and Warner Bros. 

The programme in the UK is part of BAFTA’s wider global scholarship activity, which in 2014 saw the first BAFTA Scholarship Programme in Hong Kong. BAFTA Los Angeles has an active Scholarship Program that includes the new Pigott/BAFTA Scholarship, offering financial support and mentorship to British graduate students studying in the US. Previous recipients include Sacha Gervasi (Hitchcock, The Terminal), Gil Kenan (Monster House) and Oscar Sharp, who was nominated for a BAFTA this year with his short film The Kármán Line. BAFTA Los Angeles is currently accepting scholarship applications via their webstie. The BAFTA New York Media Studies Scholarship Program supports students pursuing media studies at undergraduate and graduate level institutions within the New York City area.


Note to Editors

The Bigger Picture, directed and written by BAFTA scholarship recipient Daisy Jacobs, was named best British Short Animation at the EE British Academy Film Awards, and was nominated in the Short Film (Animated) category at the Oscars. 

Find out more about the British Short Animation winner in 2015 >


Further Information

For further information, please contact Kindred...

Daisy Jestico | T: 020 7010 0807 | E: [email protected] 

Hollie Rendall | T: 020 7010 0829 | E: [email protected] 

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, scholarships 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. 


BAFTA Scholarship Mentors in 2014-15 

In 2014, the third year of the BAFTA Scholarship Programme, the eight new scholarship recipients were matched with industry professionals, including BAFTA-winners and nominees, for mentoring support. The BAFTA mentors include: games programme Lizi Attwood (Call of Duty: Strike Team); screenwriters Allan Cubitt (The Fall, Prime Suspect 2) and Jack Thorne (Skins, The Fades); visual effects supervisor Simon Frame (Da Vinci’s Demon’s, Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot); Anthony Geffen, CEO and Executive Producer at Atlantic Productions (David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive 3D); director Paul McGuigan (Lucky Number Slevin, Sherlock: A Study in Pink); visual effects compositor Ed Plant (Hugo, X-Men: The Last Stand); and Adam Shaw, Co-Founder and Director at Blue-Zoo Productions (Tree Fu Tom).


Quotes from 2014-15 BAFTA Scholars:

“The BAFTA scholarship has given me an extreme confidence boost as it feels like an invitation from the industry to continue on this difficult journey. It’s as if the first door has been opened to me and I am grateful for the opportunities ahead.” – Tadhg Culley, MA Screenwriting, National Film and Television School (NFTS)

“Without the Prince William Scholarship [supported by BAFTA and Warner Bros.] I would have financial pressures that may have affected my studies … and would not have had the opportunity to meet the number of industry professionals that I have. My BAFTA mentor [Lizi Attwood] is incredible ... her input is invaluable. I’m also excited to meet my Warner Bros. mentor.” – Elizabeth Mercuri, MSc Games Software Development, Sheffield Hallam University (Prince William Scholarship recipient)

“If it wasn't for BAFTA I wouldn't be doing [my MA]! I would have not been able to afford to continue my studies … I have attended several BAFTA events both in the flesh and on-line, the highlight for me had to be [BAFTA Craft: The Sessions], the day before the 2015 BAFTA [Film Awards] ceremony. The event was an overwhelming experience, having the opportunity to sit in on intimate question and answer sessions with leading industry figures in relevant fields.” – Bradley Johnson, MA Moving Image and Sound, Norwich University of the Arts (NUA)