- BAFTA Breakthrough US is the arts charity’s flagship talent initiative offering a year-round program of industry meetings and professional development opportunities
- Link to headshots and biographies: HERE
Credit: BAFTA/Lee Jameson
Today, BAFTA North America announced the 2025 BAFTA Breakthrough US cohort, featuring 12 ‘must-watch’ creatives working in film, games and television, from across the US. BAFTA Breakthrough is the arts charity’s flagship talent initiative providing a springboard to creatives spanning craft specialisms from costume design, production, casting, editing and games design, to performance, directing, composing and cinematography. BAFTA’s mission is to champion the creative and cultural importance of the screen arts across film, games and television.
Awarded to those in the midst of, or on the cusp of, their breakthrough moment, the year-long initiative includes one-on-one meetings and career guidance, full voting membership, access to BAFTA events and screenings, as well as networking events, both in the UK and internationally.
BAFTA Breakthrough is part of BAFTA’s year-round initiatives to nurture the next generation of creative talent. Here in the US, BAFTA North America’s long-established and celebrated programs, such as the BAFTA Student Awards, Vance Byrd Mentorship Program and scholarships help thousands of people build their careers in film, games, and television. BAFTA North America drives local impact by opening pathways, expanding access, and supporting emerging talent in our creative communities. BAFTA’s global mission ensures opportunity and equity across the creative industries.
The full list of the 2025 BAFTA Breakthrough US cohort is as follows:
US BREAKTHROUGHS:
- Brandon Wilson, actor – Nickel Boys (Film)
- Brittany Shyne, director – Seeds (Film, Documentary)
- Chase Infiniti, actor – Presumed Innocent (Television)
- Erika Ishii, voice performer – Ghost of Yotei (Games)
- Eva Victor, writer / director / actor – Sorry, Baby (Film)
- Frida Perez, writer / producer – The Studio (Television)
- Karla Reyes, creative director – Take Us North (Games)
- Mia Cioffi Henry, cinematographer – Sorry, Baby (Film)
- Miles Caton, actor – Sinners (Film)
- Min Ji (Maggie) Kang, writer / director – KPop Demon Hunters (Film)
- Paige Bethmann, director – Remaining Native (Film, Documentary)
- Xalavier Nelson Jr., studio head – I Am Your Beast (Games)
Courtney LaBarge Bell, Executive Director of BAFTA North America said: “The BAFTA Breakthrough US program continues to be a beacon for emerging excellence, and this year’s cohort exemplifies the power of bold, imaginative storytelling. At a moment when hurdles to building sustainable careers in entertainment are as difficult as ever and programs like this are shuttering, BAFTA remains steadfast in its belief and investment in the next generation. It is a privilege to witness such exceptional talent stepping into their own and to celebrate the moments when their artistry truly takes flight. Their vision, dedication, and fearlessness have left a lasting impression on us all. We hope this year-long program strengthens their path toward long, meaningful careers shaped by curiosity and craft. Congratulations to our 2025 cohort, your achievements are remarkable, and we are honored to champion your journey.”
This year’s Breakthrough US cohort was selected by a jury of leading cross-industry figures, including Channing Godfrey Peoples, Davina Pardo, Jessica Hernandez, Kate Edwards, Nyasha Hatendi, Paul Rogers, Sam Enoch, Simone Ling for film & television and Andrew Prahlow, Arjun Yadav, Carmen Askerneese, Del Walker, Dmitri Johnson, Julia Bianco Schoeffling, Tara Voelker for games.
BAFTA Breakthrough US is celebrating its 6th anniversary this year. As an incubator for the industry’s future change-makers, BAFTA Breakthrough nurtures and encourages peer-to-peer network building. The program also taps into BAFTA’s unique global academy of almost 14,000 creatives through curating a host of one-to-one meetings with established practitioners. Notable alumni include Stephanie Economou, HIKARI, Nava Mau, Bao Nguyen, Fernando Reyes Medina, Karrie Shirou Shao, Erica Tremblay, Cheyenne Pualani Morrin, Sean Wang and more. Many go on to build very successful careers in the screen arts, creating games, TV shows and features that achieve national and international industry acclaim, including BAFTA nominations and wins.
Apple TV sponsors this year’s BAFTA Breakthrough US, which fosters and empowers emerging creative talent both behind and in front of the camera. BAFTA champion voices across film, games, and television, celebrating practitioners from all backgrounds and life experiences and cultivating the exceptional storytellers of today and tomorrow.
Notes to editors
For more information contact:
Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis
BAFTA North America
[email protected]
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 501c3 (no. EIN 95-4130773).
About Apple TV
Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.*
