BAFTA, the only academy in the world to champion British and global film, games and television, has set out an annual update on the make-up of its membership.
As of 2024, BAFTA comprises an international membership of 13,500 members spanning dozens of creative disciplines across film, games and television, with branches in London, Cardiff, Glasgow and Los Angeles.
A record-breaking number of applications were received for membership in 2024. Every application is individually assessed by BAFTA and industry professionals that volunteer on BAFTA’s sector committees as well as Board members.
The headlines are:
- 800 expert creative practitioners have joined BAFTA as Full Voting Members this year
- BAFTA continues to grow its network internationally, with 50 countries around the world represented within the academy as of 2024
- Almost 1 in 5 members are today located in US (18%)
- BAFTA continues to represent the UK’s largest film and television industry voting bodies at 8,100 and 6,000 voting members respectively
- BAFTA’s games voting membership is also at a record high of 1,300 – with the academy marking twenty years of the BAFTA Games Awards earlier this year.
In 2020, BAFTA set itself overall membership diversity targets in line with UK broadcasters and industry organisations. Based on this data, BAFTA’s year-round learning and development programmes and advisory groups aim to actively address areas of under-representation in the film, games and television industries.
The members who have joined since 2020 are 52:48 female:male; 28% from underrepresented ethnic groups; 13% with a disability; 22% LGBTQIA+; and 21% are from low socio-economic backgrounds. The current make-up of BAFTA’s membership overall is: 42:58 female:male; 17% from underrepresented ethnic groups; 8% with a disability; 14% LGBTQIA+ and 19% from a low socio-economic background.
BAFTA Connect, a membership initiative founded in 2022 for emerging and mid-level creatives has also been an important part of the academy’s plans to widen access into the screen industries and help foster community for those without existing industry connections. To-date, it has provided over 2,700 talented people from across the screen industries with a tailored programme of support, to help build consistent and sustained careers in their chosen craft specialism.
Sara Putt, Chair of BAFTA: “BAFTA is at the centre of film, games and television: three cultural mediums that widen our worldview, spark joy and bring people together. It is imperative that the screen arts represent society on and off screen – yet too many people are still locked out due to barriers and bias or find after getting a foot in the door that a career is not sustainable. At BAFTA, we are helping address these systemic inequalities by providing community, spotlighting best practice and celebrating the belief that creative excellence comes in many forms. We are delighted to welcome over 800 new expert voters and look forward to seeing how they will contribute to our work and shape their sectors, as we continue to evolve and grow our academy and help drive positive industry change.”
BAFTA’s 2025 awards season is underway. The 2025 BAFTA Games Awards Longlists will publish next week on 10 December, followed by the nominations on 4 March 2025 and ceremony in Spring 2025.
Voting kicks off for the 2025 EE BAFTA Film Awards tomorrow (Friday 6 December), with the Longlists to be published on 3 January 2025, the nominations on 15 January, followed by the ceremony on 16 February.
The 2025 BAFTA Television Craft Awards and BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises nominations will be revealed on 27 March 2025, with the BAFTA Television Craft Awards set to take place on 27 April, followed by the BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises on 11 May.
Notes to editors
BAFTA membership diversity targets set as part of the 2020 BAFTA Review can be found here.
Progress against diversity targets is reported in BAFTA’s annual review, which can be found here.
For more information, please contact:
BAFTA Press Office
T: 020 7292 5863
E: [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 registered charity (no. 216726).
