Outstanding Debut Award

15 January 09

The Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer recognises and encourages the most promising new British talent in film writing, directing or producing.

Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer: Tyrannosaur
BAFTA/Richard KendalThe Award recognises a special achievement by a Brit in their first feature film and encourages the most promising new talent in the film industry.

< Paddy Considine and Diarmid Scrimshaw: Outstanding Debut Award winners in 2012

The award was introduced in 1998 when it was known as the Carl Foreman Award, and was run in conjunction with the Williams-Jones Foundation. In 2010 the Award became known as Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.

A Short History

Born in Chicago, Carl Foreman made his mark in Hollywood with such notable screenplays as Champion (1949), which established Kirk Douglas as a major star, and The Men (1950), which launched the career of Marlon Brando. During the filming of High Noon (1952), for which he not only produced but also wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay, Carl was summoned to appear before the infamous House Un-American Activities Committee.

Refusing to “name names,” he was blacklisted and forced to move to Britain to further his career. In 1957 he won an Oscar with Michael Wilson for their screenplay of Bridge On The River Kwai. Carl went on to produce, write and direct films, including The Mouse That Roared (1959), Guns Of Navarone (1961), The Victors (1963), Born Free (1966) and Young Winston (1972). In 1976, he was honoured by his adoptive country with a CBE – rare for an American.

“The exceptionally high standard of previous Carl Foreman Award winners fittingly honours Carl’s memory,” says Eve Williams-Jones (formerly Foreman). “He was passionately committed to the training and development of new generations of filmmakers who understood that the medium not only had the potential to inform and enlighten, but was required to entertain as well.”

PREVIOUS WINNERS

Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer

Carl Foreman Award

2009 - Steve McQueen (writer/director, Hunger)
2008 – Matt Greenhalgh (writer, Control)
2007 – Andrea Arnold (director, Red Road)
2006 – Joe Wright (director, Pride & Prejudice)
2005 – Amma Asante (writer/director, A Way Of Life)
2004 – Emily Young (writer/director, Kiss Of Life)
2003 – Asif Kapadia (writer/director, The Warrior)
2002 – Joel Hopkins and Nicola Usborne (writer/director & producer, Jump Tomorrow)
2001 – Pawel Pawlikowski (writer/director, Last Resort)