London, 19 March: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is calling for applications to the BAFTA Scholarship Programme, which assists talented UK nationals in need of financial support to study a post-graduate course in film, television or games in the UK. Applications for the forthcoming academic year open today at http with a deadline of Monday 16 June.
Each BAFTA Scholar will receive up to £10,000 towards their course fees for a year, mentoring support from BAFTA members, and free access to BAFTA events around the UK. In return, the scholarship recipients will share their learning experiences on BAFTA Guru (www.bafta.org/guru), BAFTA’s online learning resource, and participate in future BAFTA outreach to young people.
For a second year, three students will each receive one of the Prince William Scholarships in Film, Television and Games, supported by BAFTA and Warner Bros. These scholarships, an integral element of Warner Bros. Creative Talent, Warner Bros.’ investment in UK creative industries’ skills and training, are awarded in the name of HRH The Duke of Cambridge in his role as President of BAFTA. The recipients will have their fees funded by Warner Bros. and will additionally receive a short funded work placement within the Warner Bros. group of companies, access to a Warner Bros. mentor, and invitations to a series of industry masterclasses.
Anne Morrison, Deputy Chair of BAFTA, and Chair of BAFTA’s Learning and Events Committee, said: “The BAFTA Scholarship Programme is fast becoming an important means by which talented individuals, who aren’t from the wealthiest backgrounds, can develop their skills and progress their careers. BAFTA’s support goes beyond the financial, with access to our industry events and one-to-one mentoring combining with their studies to give BAFTA Scholars a well-rounded experience. We want to attract the brightest and the best to our industries, so I encourage anyone with potential who is struggling to fund their studies to apply.”
Josh Berger CBE, President & Managing Director, Warner Bros. UK, Ireland & Spain, said: “This unique collaboration between BAFTA and Warner Bros. enables upcoming talent, who would not otherwise have the opportunity, to get their first step into the creative industries. Our inaugural Prince William Scholars have already demonstrated to us what is possible when talented people are given access to opportunities and we encourage people who have the potential and commitment to pursue a career in the creative industries to apply.”
The BAFTA Scholarship Programme, which is now in its third year, is part of BAFTA’s charitable activity to support talented people at all stages of their career in film, television and games. The recipients will be selected by a panel of industry professionals following an open call to UK nationals applying for eligible UK courses.
The BAFTA Scholarship Programme has been made possible by the generous support of the Academy Circle, Kevin Burke, the Edwin Fox Foundation, the Galashan Trust, Evelina Girling, Linda Shire, the Lowy Mitchell Foundation, Rebecca Wang and Warner Bros.
The programme in the UK is part of BAFTA’s wider global scholarship activity, which this year sees the first BAFTA Scholarship Programme in Hong Kong, supported by The Yip Foundation, which is currently accepting applications from UK nationals wishing to study in Hong Kong at http
BAFTA Los Angeles has an active Scholarship Program offering financial support and mentorship to British students studying in the US; the BAFTA New York Media Studies Scholarship Program supports students pursuing media studies at undergraduate and graduate level institutions within the New York City area.
Further Information
For further information about BAFTA please contact Kindred Agency
Rosie Mann | Tel 020 7010 0843 | Email* [email protected]
Hollie Rendall | Tel 020 7010 0829 | Email* [email protected]
About BAFTA
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is an independent charity that supports, develops and promotes the art forms of the moving image by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public. In addition to its Awards ceremonies, BAFTA has a year-round Learning & Events programme that offers unique access to some of the world’s most inspiring talent through workshops, masterclasses, lectures and mentoring schemes, connecting with audiences of all ages and backgrounds across the UK, Los Angeles and New York. BAFTA relies on income from membership subscriptions, individual donations, trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships to support its ongoing outreach work. For further information, visit www.bafta.org or www.bafta.org/guru.
About the 2013/2014 BAFTA Scholars
In 2013, the second year of the BAFTA Scholarship Programme, the 10 new scholarship recipients students received mentoring from BAFTA members, award-winners and nominees including: Lisa Ausden, Creative Director for Factual Production at the BBC; drama producer Hilary Bevan Jones (_The Girl in the Café_, _State of Play_); cinematographer Ben Davis (_Kick-Ass_, _Seven Psychopaths_); VFX Supervisor Graham Jack (_Batman Begins_; _Angels & Demons_); production sound mixer Simon Hayes (_Les Misérables_, _Prometheus_); game developer Imre Jele (_Monstermind_, _Merlin_); documentary producer Eamonn Matthews (_Unreported World_, _Dispatches: Terror in Mumbai_); Christine Langan, Head of BBC Films; and Peter Lord, Co-Owner and Creative Director of Aardman Animations.
!Quotes from 2013/204 BAFTA Scholars:
_“Without the incredible financial support I have received I could never have taken this leap to develop my career… It’s nothing short of life changing. My BAFTA mentor Imre Jele has been such an inspiration… I was invited down to his studios in London and we discussed a variety of topics related to the design, it’s just incredible to get that kind of feedback. He’s made a lot of time for me and I’m extremely grateful. My Warner Bros. mentor Spencer Crossley has also been fantastic to talk to. He has given me an invaluable insight into a side of the industry I knew very little about beforehand.”_ – Sam Coleman (recipient of a Prince William Scholarship, supported by BAFTA and Warner Bros.), MA Games Design and Development at the National Film and Television School (NFTS).
_“The scholarship caused me to expect more from myself during this year. Having BAFTA decide to invest in me made me decide to produce work worthy of that investment. It made me feel confident in having high ambitions for the future.”_ – Rhiannon Evans, MA Directing Animation at NFTS.
_“To be involved with both BAFTA and Warner Bros. has been an incredible experience and just the people I have met through this scholarship have given me the opportunities to prove myself and further open more doors in my future. I have met my BAFTA mentor, Simon Hayes, twice so far and have been to visit him on set at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden. He has been a massive inspiration and genuinely wants to teach me valuable skills for my future, providing me with more contacts as well as great tips from his years of expertise in sound. I’ve also been fortunate enough to be able to speak a lot with my other mentor Helen Alexander, Director of WB De Lane Lea. Helen has been an invaluable help already in teaching me about Film and TV post production. I have visited De Lane Lea and we’re also currently setting up some time for me to gain some work experience there. Helen has had a great influence on my understanding of the industry and I count myself extremely lucky to have both her and Simon as mentors.”_ – Sam Hughes (recipient of a Prince William Scholarship, supported by BAFTA and Warner Bros.), MA in Postproduction with Sound Design at the University of York.
_“Being a BAFTA scholar has opened doors for me which I couldn’t have imagined being opened before. The experiences I have had through my course, mentor relationship and BAFTA events, as well as the people I’ve met including fellow scholars, have been exceptional and all able to happen, because of BAFTA.”_ – Eleanor Pitt, MA Television Journalism at City University.
