BAFTA/Jonathan Birch Scholarships available to study film, television or games at selected UK institutions
London, 16 March: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has today opened applications to the BAFTA Scholarship Programme, which enables talented British citizens, who are in need of financial support, to take an industry-recognised course in film, television or games in the UK. Applications for the 2016-17 academic year open today at http://bit.ly/BAFTAScholarships, with a deadline of Friday 17 June.
Each BAFTA Scholar will receive up to £12,000 towards their annual course fees, as well as 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 (www.bafta.org/guru), BAFTA’s online learning resource, and participate in BAFTA outreach to young people.
Previous BAFTA Scholarship recipients have gone on to work on BAFTA recognised productions: In 2015 animation director Daisy Jacobs won a BAFTA and was Oscar-nominated with her graduation film; and this year cinematographers Ian Forbes and Steven Ferguson both worked on BAFTA-nominated short films, with Ian Forbes the DoP on the British Short Animation winner, Edmond.
For a fourth 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 New Talent Committee, said: “It is crucial that talented individuals, whatever their background or personal circumstances, are able both to enter and build successful careers within our film, television and games industries. We’re proud of the diverse range of people that we support through these scholarships; both with financial aid, and also by giving them the chance to build lasting relationships with leading industry figures through one-to-one mentoring and access to industry events. I urge anyone with a budding talent to apply for this wonderful opportunity.”
Josh Berger CBE, President & Managing Director, Warner Bros. UK, Ireland & Spain, said: “We’re extremely proud to continue our unique collaboration with BAFTA, which enables diverse and upcoming talent, who would not otherwise have the opportunity, to take their first steps into the creative industries. Previous Prince William Scholars have flourished as a result of the opportunities they have received and we encourage committed and talented people who have a passion for the creative industries to apply.”
The BAFTA Scholarship Programme, which is now in its fifth 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 British citizens 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 this year, for the first time, includes scholarships for British citizens to study in China and vice versa. BAFTA Los Angeles has an active Scholarship Program that includes the Pigott/BAFTA Scholarship, offering financial support and mentorship to British graduate students studying in the US, as well as scholarships to provide financial aid to local LA students from the inner city. 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. For more information about BAFTA’s global scholarships, go to: http://bit.ly/BAFTAGlobalScholarships.
Note to Editors:
The Bigger Picture, directed and written by 2012 BAFTA scholarship recipient Daisy Jacobs, was named best British Short Animation at the EE British Academy Film Awards in 2015, and was nominated in the Short Film (Animated) category at the Oscars in the same year.
Ian Forbes, BAFTA Scholarship recipient in 2013, was the DoP for Edmond which won the BAFTA for British Short Animation at the EE British Academy Film Awards in 2016.
Steven Ferguson, also a BAFTA Scholarship recipient in 2013, was the DoP for Manoman, which was nominated in the British Short Animation category at the EE British Academy Film Awards in 2016.
For details of the most recent BAFTA Scholars, go to: bit.ly/BAFTAukscholarships2015.
For further information, please contact:
Eleanor Thrower
T: +44 (0)20 7292 5863
E: [email protected]
Niyi Akeju
T: +44 (0)20 7292 5865
E: [email protected]
For event photography, logos, accreditation and more, visit www.bafta.org/press.
BAFTA Scholarship Mentors in 2015-16
In 2015, the fourth year of the BAFTA Scholarship Programme, the 13 new scholarship recipients were matched with industry professionals, including BAFTA-winners and nominees, for mentoring support. The BAFTA mentors include: sound effects editor Niv Adiri (Gravity, Ex Machina), actor, writer and director Noel Clarke (Kidulthood, Doctor Who), animation director Merlin Crossingham (Morph, Creature Comforts), actor Shaun Dooley (Broadchurch, Cuffs), cinematographer Gavin Finney (Wolf Hall, Going Postal), animation director Jim Jagger (Grand Theft Auto V, The Fades), visual effects supervisor Hayden Jones (Jekyll & Hyde, Broadchurch), composer John Lunn (Downton Abbey, The Last Kingdom), production sound mixer Chris Munro (Gravity, Captain Phillips), music supervisor Maggie Rodford (Harry Potter, Cinderella), environment artist Karen Stanley (Playstation VR, London Heist), and game designer Ted Timmins (Fable).
Quotes from 2015-16 BAFTA Scholars:
“I am completely indebted to BAFTA; without their support I simply would have not been able to start my studies. Receiving guidance from such an experienced industry member [as music supervisor Maggie Rodford] has given me more confidence when it comes to tackling various aspects of my career, in particular practical and legal details of the industry which I previously ignorant of. I have connected with various other BAFTA Scholarship recipients from a range of different backgrounds to mine, [and] being associated with BAFTA has proven a valuable tool for networking.” – Tom Barnes, MComp in Composition for Screen at the Royal College of Music
“As well as being an honour I feel having received a BAFTA scholarship has already helped me by putting me in contact with leaders in my chosen industry as well as making me stand out as someone BAFTA has faith in. I feel in today's world anything you can do to make yourself known is extremely useful.” – Laura-Beth Cowley, MA Animation at the University of the West of England
“Finishing my final year being financially stable [has] meant my art form, what I love to do [has been] my main priority. It's easier to fully immerse yourself in a rehearsal room when you're not worried about financial pressures. I [have] truly felt less blind in a profession I [am] about to enter. Becoming a BAFTA scholar boosted my confidence ten-fold. For an organisation like BAFTA to take a chance on someone that isn't from the usual walk of life that most actors are from says so much about BAFTA.” – Jason Harris, BA Acting at East 15
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 programme of learning events and initiatives – featuring workshops, masterclasses, scholarships, lectures and mentoring schemes – in the UK, USA and Asia; it offers unique access to the world’s most inspiring talent and connects with a global audience of all ages and backgrounds. BAFTA relies on income from membership subscriptions, individual donations, trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships to support its ongoing outreach work. To access the best creative minds in film, television and games production, visit www.bafta.org/guru. For more, visit www.bafta.org.
