BAFTA announces over £277,000 in grants to support 86 creatives launch careers

The BAFTA bursary and scholarship recipients were announced at a celebratory breakfast at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, featuring a Q&A with actor and director, Peter Capaldi, a long-time BAFTA bursary supporter.

Credit: ©BAFTA/Jamie Simonds, 2025

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Today, BAFTA announces the recipients of its 2025 scholarship programmes and Prince William BAFTA Bursary, awarding over £277,000 in grants to 86 emerging creatives in the UK and North America. With an increased number of bursaries this year, this support will help the next generation of filmmakers, games designers, actors, producers, editors, and more who face financial barriers to break through and progress in their careers. 

The announcement was made at BAFTA’s Patron, Bursary & Scholarships Breakfast at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly this morning. BAFTA Chair Sara Putt gave a welcome address at the event, followed by a Q&A with actor and director Peter Capaldi, a long-standing bursary supporter, hosted by broadcaster Ali Plumb. Attendees included fellow bursary supporter, actor and producer Elaine Collins. The breakfast also celebrated the generosity of donors – from founding supporter, film director, producer and screenwriter Paul Greengrass to the network of patrons who sustain the programmes today. 

Previous recipients of BAFTA bursaries and scholarships have gone on to work for major film, television and games productions, from Doctor Who (BBC/Disney+) to Netflix Originals, along with contributing to BAFTA’s Award shows and working on the shoot for BAFTA’s recent cinema trailer, celebrating the art of storytelling in games.   

Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA, said: “Opening doors for the next generation of storytellers is at the heart of BAFTA’s mission. Our bursaries and scholarships remove the practical and financial barriers that too often stand in the way of talented people starting out in film, games, and television. From driving lessons to specialist equipment and tuition fees, this support can make the difference between someone having to step back from their ambitions or moving forward with confidence. I’m immensely proud of the impact these programmes have had to date, and deeply grateful to the many patrons who continue to champion the creatives of tomorrow.” 

Sara Putt, chair of BAFTA said: “We are thrilled that we are able to award 86 talented creatives with the means and opportunity to pursue their careers in the screen arts. The Prince William BAFTA Bursary Fund continues to grow each year creating real impact around our mission to break down the barriers to opportunity and ensuring all creatives, regardless of background, can forge a career in the screen arts. We at BAFTA want to thank the many generous supporters who support this vital initiative, helping to invest in the creative talent of the future” 

Peter Capaldi, bursary supporter, said: “I am delighted to support this wonderful scheme as I recognise from my own experience just how hard it can be to break into our industry particularly when you can’t afford the hardware, the training or even the travel costs that could help you pursue your career. These bursaries provide just that financial support, as well as a link and a contact to BAFTA with its long history of support and encouragement.” 

The Prince William BAFTA Bursary continues to provide grants of up to £2,000 each to help creatives from across Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland cover essential costs, such as driving lessons, specialist training, relocation and equipment, which can otherwise prevent talented people from pursuing careers in the screen industries.  

2025 UK Bursary Recipients include: 

Aaron Bruce – production assistant, Adam Krishan Popli – art director, Addy Sekhon – camera trainee, Aidan Curran – sound trainee, Aiden Sealey – game producer, Aleck Gardner – camera trainee, Alessia Ebere Mavakala – writer, director & filmmaker, Amber Ward – freelancer, Amy Lott – art department trainee Anna Pereira Finn,  – animator & illustrator, Anna Fearon – director, April Gray – video assist/DIT trainee, Arlo Martin – production assistant, Ashley Parris – sound trainee, Ayla Yildirim – hair and makeup trainee, Bayley Mya Greenaway – hair and makeup trainee, Callum Davies – actor, Charlie Grayson – camera trainee, Cressentia Masuku – costume trainee, Denis Curej – filmmaker, Evan Thomson – sound trainee, Fiona McDonald – locations department trainee, Gareth Chambers – creative director, Helen Aarab – prop & mould maker, Ilena Pegan – producer, Ioan Pugh – video editor, Jagraj Singh – cinematographer & filmmaker, James Davis – screenwriter, James Ley – playwright & screenwriter, Jamila Kabir – creative producer, Jess Agius – costume trainee, Jess Williams – art director, Jo Dack – screenwriter, Joe Lindsay – production trainee, Kaitlyn Roper – set decorator trainee, Katie Cooper – hair & makeup trainee, Kieran Mavar – production assistant, Kyle Allan – sound recordist, Laura Bachmann – art department trainee, Loz Mason-Guetta – gaffer, Leia Williams – voice actor, Lilly Smith – runner/AD trainee, Logan Eason – sound recordist, Maddie Lock – filmmaker & programmer, Matthew Stevens – game producer, Max Burton – production runner, Max Fullerton – lighting trainee, Megan Daly – sound trainee, Miranda Carter-Watson – production assistant, Montel Vernege – camera trainee, Olivia Jones – documentary filmmaker, Tomi Machado – camera trainee, Queensley Osemwengie – data wrangling assistant, Rufus Boothe – trainee editor, Ruth Bromley – sound trainee, Sam Purkis – actor & writer, Samuel Huw Wiltshire – freelance sound recordist, Sara Schiavone – animator, Sarah Nolan – QA analyst, Sarah Attwood – makeup artist, Silvana Roth – animator, Steph Young – hair and makeup trainee, Sydney Simpson – story researcher, Tahiyah Brewster – writer, director & producer, Thamanna Choudhury – props trainee, Tommy Lam – graphics assistant 

Alongside the bursary programme, BAFTA has named the new UK Scholars, who will receive up to £12,000 in funding towards tuition fees or living costs, in addition to mentoring and free access to BAFTA’s year-round events. 

2025 UK Scholars: 

• Daniel Kelly – University of the West of Scotland, BAFTA Risman Scholar, MA Filmmaking 

• Emma Barua – Christine Blundell Makeup Academy, BAFTA Reuben Scholar, Intensive 4-Month Hair and Makeup SFX Course 

• Evie Kaisi – Guildhall School of Music and Drama, BAFTA Scholar, BA Acting 

• Frances Acton – Abertay University, BAFTA Reuben Scholar, BA Computer Arts 

• Laura Wiggett – National Film and Television School, BAFTA Reuben Scholar, MFA Editing 

• Sarah Webster – Christine Blundell Makeup Academy, BAFTA Scholar, Intensive 4-Month Hair and Makeup SFX Course 

BAFTA North America has also announced its 2025 cohort of scholars who will receive funding packages of up to $60,000 to support studying at leading institutions, including Duke University, UCLA, USC, NYU and the American Film Institute, as well as mentoring and career support. 

2025 US Scholars include: 

• Emily Badescu – Fulbright-BAFTA Scholarship and Pigott/BAFTA Scholarship, Duke University 

• Nikaya Manley – Hunter Foundation Scholarship, Brooklyn College 

• Ana Alpizar – BBC America Diversity Scholarship, New York University 

• Dylan LaRay – Taffner Family Charitable Trust Scholarship, City College of New York 

• Cameran Johal – Pigott/BAFTA Scholarship, New York University 

• Joanna Vymeris – Pigott/BAFTA Scholarship, American Film Institute 

• Rebs Fisher-Jackson – Pigott/BAFTA Scholarship, UCLA 

• Sang Wee – Pigott/BAFTA Scholarship, USC 

• Aisha Cabanillas – BAFTA Bridge Scholarship, California State University, Northridge 

Notes to Editors: 

The Prince William BAFTA Bursary Fund is generously supported by: Celia Imrie, Franz Pagot, Gerald Fox, Lucy Amos, Paul Greengrass and Joanna Kaye, Peter Capaldi and Elaine Collins, Peter Samengo-Turner, Phil Davies, Priya Dogra, Pure Land Foundation, Richard Sydenham, Robin Jackson, Sir Peter Bazalgette, Stephen Merchant, Steve Pemberton, The Thompson Family Charitable Trust, Tina Micklethwait, Vicky Deigman, WDM Entertainment and the Zilberman Film Foundation.

The BAFTA Scholarships Programme is generously supported by: The Reuben Foundation (supporting the BAFTA Reuben Scholars), The Risman Foundation (supporting the BAFTA Risman Scholar), plus BAFTA patrons. 

The BAFTA North America Scholarships Programme is supported by: BBC America, the Fulbright Programme, philanthropist Sir Mark Pigott KBE, the Jeff Hunter Charitable Trust,the Taffner Family Charitable Trust, and the Ifeachor-Eruola Family 

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Credit: BAFTA/Jamie SImonds

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About BAFTA
BAFTA’s mission as a charity is to champion the creative and cultural importance of the screen arts across film, games and television. Through its Awards ceremonies and year-round programme of talent initiatives and learning events that include masterclasses, lectures, scholarships, bursaries and mentoring schemes in the UK and North America, BAFTA identifies and celebrates excellence, discovers, inspires and nurtures new screen talent, and enables learning and creative collaboration. For more, visit www.bafta.org. BAFTA is a registered charity (no. 216726).