London, Tuesday 5 April: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is calling for emerging British talent to put their names forward for BAFTA Breakthrough Brits in partnership with Burberry, an annual new talent initiative that identifies, celebrates and supports the UK’s future stars of film, television and games.
To mark this year’s launch, BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated director Paul Greengrass (United 93, Omagh, The Bourne Ultimatum) spoke to previous Breakthrough Brits and other BAFTA-supported new talent at BAFTA’s headquarters, 195 Piccadilly in London, last night. During the event Greengrass, who has received BAFTAs for his film and television work, gave insights into his creative process and discussed his own breakthrough moments.
Speaking at the launch, Paul Greengrass said: “Initiatives like Breakthrough Brits are vitally important to ensure outstanding talents are supported to succeed, whatever their background. BAFTA’s commitment to providing tailored mentoring and career development opportunities for the honourees helps to safeguard the future of our industry, and I’m delighted to support this unique initiative.”
Applications are open now at http://bit.ly/Breakthrough-Brits until Monday 30 May. A jury of experts from film, television and games will select up to 20 Breakthrough Brits for 2016, who will each receive a bespoke programme of career development support for 12 months, including one-to-one mentoring, guidance sessions and networking opportunities, as well as free access to BAFTA events for 12 months. The selected honourees will be revealed at a reception at the global Burberry flagship, 121 Regent Street, later this year.
In March this year, BAFTA-winning director Sam Mendes (Skyfall, American Beauty) spoke to recent Breakthrough Brits at a lunch at the Rosewood Hotel in London. On meeting the honourees, Mendes described Breakthrough Brits as: “An outstanding array of talent. Truly, the next generation. Meeting them made me feel inspired and energised. What a brilliant and important idea.”
Since the launch of the initiative in 2013, four Breakthrough Brits have become BAFTA winners: Games producer Daniel Gray and game designer Rex Crowle (as part of the development teams for Monument Valley and Tearaway respectively), screenwriter Dominic Mitchell (In The Flesh) and producer Marc Williamson (The Last Chance School). BAFTA nominees include writer/director Stephen Fingleton, a Breakthrough Brit in 2015, who was nominated in the Outstanding Debut category at this year’s EE British Academy Film Awards for The Survivalist.
Amanda Berry OBE, Chief Executive of BAFTA, said: “BAFTA Breakthrough Brits has become an integral part of BAFTA’s new talent activity, and we’re thrilled to be continuing our partnership with Burberry. The calibre of talent we have identified and nurtured through the scheme has exceeded our expectations, and we have been delighted to see so many Breakthrough Brits go on to awards success, including at our own awards ceremonies. This year’s launch with Paul Greengrass and the recent event with Sam Mendes are just two examples of how world-class talent support our Breakthrough Brits. We’re very excited to see what this year’s applications will bring.”
Other figures who have given mentoring support to Breakthrough Brits include: actors Daniel Day Lewis (There Will Be Blood, Lincoln), Olivia Colman (Broadchurch, The Lobster), Naomie Harris (Skyfall, Pirates of the Caribbean) and Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky, Blue Jasmine); game narrative designer Rhianna Pratchett (Tomb Raider, Heavenly Sword); directors Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting) and Bennett Miller (Capote, Foxcatcher); screenwriter Chris Chibnall (Broadchurch, Doctor Who); and game designer Tim Schafer (Broken Age, Psychonauts).
Individuals can apply to be a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit at http://bit.ly/Breakthrough-Brits. Industry professionals can recommend someone by contacting [email protected]; BAFTA will then contact the recommended individual to invite them to submit an application before the Monday 30 May deadline.
For the full entry criteria go to: http://bit.ly/Breakthrough-Brits.
This year’s initiative is also supported by Rosewood London and Audi UK.
For further information, please contact freuds:
Kerry McGlone
T: +44 (0) 203 003 6648
E: [email protected]
Hannah Golanski
T: +44 (0) 203 003 6623
E: [email protected]
Emma Welby
T: 0203 003 6413
E: [email protected]
For images, logos, accreditation and more, visit www.bafta.org/press.
