The 17 BAFTA Breakthrough Brits will be celebrated at a new talent showcase, in partnership with Burberry, on Monday 21 October.
London, 25 September: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is delighted to announce the first ever BAFTA Breakthrough Brits, in partnership with Burberry. The 17 talented newcomers, who are making a name for themselves within film, television or games, will be celebrated at a showcase event on Monday 21 October.
The BAFTA Breakthrough Brits – chosen by a jury of industry experts – were named today as: actors Paul Brannigan, James Floyd, Tom Holland, Ade Oyefeso, Chloe Pirrie, and Sharon Rooney; writers/directors Rowan Athale and Zam Salim; writer Dominic Mitchell; game developers Oliver Clarke, Mitu Khandaker and Dan Pearce; game designers Rex Crowle and Sophia George; broadcaster Arthur Williams; and producers Ed Barratt and Nisha Parti. Find out more about the Breakthrough Brits.
John Willis, Chairman of BAFTA, who chaired the jury after an open call for nominations, said: “Through BAFTA Breakthrough Brits, we want to turbocharge the careers of really talented people right across the spectrum of the creative industries; people who are just at the point of breaking through to the next level and becoming really serious players in their industry, and could benefit from the help, support, encouragement and nurturing that an organisation like BAFTA can give them.”
Juror Felicity Jones commented: “I think the standard is excellent. It feels like there’s just an incredible array of talent, and it’s really important that it’s encouraged through this kind of initiative.”
Juror Eddie Redmayne added: “It’s a genius initiative and one of those great ideas that makes you think “why hadn’t it happened before?”
Juror Shane Meadows agreed: “The initiative is amazing, and what’s really nice about it is that it’s not just actors or it’s not just directors; there’s game designers and producers and writers.”
BAFTA Breakthrough Brits, in partnership with Burberry, is a new initiative to celebrate and support the UK’s future stars of film, television and games. The talented newcomers will be invited to a day of networking sessions and inspirational talks from leading industry figures at BAFTA’s headquarters, 195 Piccadilly, in London on Monday 21 October. The day will conclude with an evening reception at Burberry’s global flagship store, 121 Regent Street, and those selected will go on to receive a year of free access to BAFTA events as well as mentoring and guidance sessions as they move into the next stage of their careers. A special publication featuring the ‘Breakthrough Brits’ will be distributed to industry and to career-starters across the country.
For further information about BAFTA Breakthrough Brits, in partnership with Burberry, visit http
Full list of Breakthrough Brits:
Rowan Athale, writer/director - aged 32, from Balham, south London
Ed Barratt, producer – aged 30, from Newcastle upon Tyne
Paul Brannigan, actor – aged 27, from Glasgow
Oliver Clarke, game developer – aged 35, from Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Rex Crowle, game designer – aged 36, from Whitechapel, East London
James Floyd, actor – aged 28, from Hackney, east London
Sophia George, game designer – aged 23, from Runham, Norfolk
Tom Holland, actor – aged 17, from Kingston upon Thames, Surrey
Mitu Khandaker, game developer – aged 29, from Leicestershire
Dominic Mitchell, writer – aged 33, from Yealand Redmayne, Lancashire
Ade Oyefeso, actor – aged 20 from Colindale, north-west London
Nisha Parti, producer – aged 41, from Ladbroke Grove, west London
Dan Pearce, game developer – aged 19, from Maidenhead, Berkshire
Chloe Pirrie, actress – aged 26, from Edinburgh
Sharon Rooney, actress – aged 24, from Glasgow
Zam Salim, writer/director – aged 40, from Glasgow
Arthur Williams, broadcaster – aged 27, from Aston Somerville, Worcestershire
BAFTA Breakthrough Brits jury members:
John Willis (jury chair) – Chief Executive of Mentorn Media, Group Creative Director of Tinopolis plc, and Chairman of BAFTA
Georg Backer – game developer
Hilary Bevan Jones – producer
James Dean – producer/director
Jacqueline Durran – costume designer
Jamal Edwards – Founder, SBTV
Dexter Fletcher – actor/writer/director
Andy Harries – producer
Miles Jacobson – Studio Director, Sports Interactive
Felicity Jones – actor
Daniel Kaluuya – actor/writer
David Kosse – President, International, Universal Pictures
Karen Lindsay Stewart – casting director
Kim Longinotto – documentary producer/director
Philippa Lowthorpe – director
Shane Meadows – director/writer
Abi Morgan – writer
Rageh Omaar – journalist/writer
Eddie Redmayne – actor
Jo Twist – CEO, UKIE
Rob Yescombe – games & film writer
Notes to Editors:
Biographies of the Breakthrough Brits are available at: http
Photography of the Breakthrough Brits and the jury is available through Publicitymedia: www.publicitymedia.com.
Contact
For further information, please contact Freud Communications:
Vicky Grayson | T: +44 20 3003 6327 | 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 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 Burberry
Burberry, established in 1856, is an iconic British brand synonymous with innovation and craftsmanship. Based in London under the direction of Chief Creative Officer, Christopher Bailey, the brand has a global reputation for pioneering design and fabrics. By exploring unique brand innovations such as Burberry Acoustic, Art of the Trench and fully immersive runway shows, Burberry continues to connect heritage with cutting-edge technology and digital media. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange (BRBY.L) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index.
