Seven first features by acclaimed British directors will screen at UK cinemas and schools from June to November
Q&As will take place at select screenings
London, 31 May 2017: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts will be showcasing seven BAFTA-winning debut feature films, from leading British directors, in cinemas and schools across the UK this summer and autumn. Screenings confirmed to date include London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Bradford and Newcastle, with some featuring live Q&As or pre-recorded interviews with the filmmakers.
The BAFTA Debuts film tour, which will run from June to November, is part of the organisation’s 70th anniversary celebrations, BAFTA at 70. It is supported by the BFI and the Heritage Lottery Fund (both awarding funds from The National Lottery), the Independent Cinema Office and Into Film.
The seven participating films were awarded between 2000 and 2010 in the Outstanding Debut category, which recognises a filmmaker or team whose first feature-length film sets them apart as a talent with a distinct vision and potential.
Among the seven BAFTA-winning directors are two who had received earlier BAFTA recognition for their short films, five whose debut film was also recognised in the Outstanding British Film category, and five who have since had other nominations or wins at BAFTA Film Award ceremonies.
The films were shot in various locations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as India. They are:
2000 - Ratcatcher (dir. Lynne Ramsay)
2003 - The Warrior (dir. Asif Kapadia)
2005 - A Way Of Life (dir. Amma Asante)
2006 - Pride And Prejudice (dir. Joe Wright)
2007 - Red Road (dir. Andrea Arnold)
2009 - Hunger (dir. Steve McQueen)
2010 - Moon (dir. Duncan Jones)
Pippa Harris, Chair of BAFTA’s Film Committee, said: “These BAFTA-winning debut films represent the extraordinary range of diverse directing talent that emerged in Britain the late 1990s and early 2000s. Their early work demonstrates their distinctive skills and huge potential, and all of them have gone on to enjoy greater success. We’re thrilled to be providing audiences across the UK with the opportunity to see these films on the big screen, and in schools, and to hear from these incredible filmmakers as part of our 70th anniversary celebrations.”
Education materials, including specially recorded interviews with Amma Asante, Asif Kapadia and Joe Wright, will be available for teachers via the Into Film platform: https://www.intofilm.org/. Select screenings will also feature recorded Q&As with these directors, with extended versions available on the BAFTA Guru website.
Confirmed live Q&As include:
The Warrior + Q&A with director Asif Kapadia at HOME, Manchester, Monday 3 July
A Way of Life + Q&A with director Amma Asante + Tribute to producer Peter Edwards, at Chapter Arts, Cardiff, Wednesday 12 July
For venues and show times of screenings and Q&As, and to watch the BAFTA Debuts trailer, visit the BAFTA website: https://www.bafta.org/film/bafta-debuts
To book the BAFTA Debuts screening for exhibition, visit the Independent Cinema Office website: http://www.independentcinemaoffice.org.uk/films/baftadebuts
Interviews with the BAFTA-winning filmmakers will be available on BAFTA Guru (www.bafta.org/guru), BAFTA’s online learning channel.
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Note to editors:
The Outstanding Debut award was first presented to directors from 1999 as the ‘Carl Foreman Award for the Most Promising Newcomer in British Film’. In 2002 it was renamed the ‘Carl Foreman Award for Special Achievement by a British Director, Writer or Producer in their First Feature Film’. In 2010 it became known as Outstanding Debut by A British Writer, Director or Producer presented in honour of Carl Foreman’.
For more information, please contact:
Chris Lawrance Film Publicity
T: +44 (0) 7967 647726
E: [email protected]
Niyi Akeju at BAFTA
T: +44 (0)20 7292 5865
For photography, visit www.bafta.org/press/images.
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 programme of learning events and initiatives – featuring workshops, masterclasses, scholarships, lectures and mentoring schemes – in the UK, USA and Asia; it offers unique access to the world’s most inspiring talent and connects with a global audience of all ages and backgrounds. BAFTA relies on income from membership subscriptions, individual donations, trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships to support its ongoing outreach work. To access the best creative minds in film, television and games production, visit www.bafta.org/guru. For more, visit www.bafta.org.
About the Heritage Lottery Fund
Thanks to National Lottery players, we invest money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about - from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife. www.hlf.org.uk. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #HLFsupported.
HLF awarded BAFTA a grant of £85,200 for the ‘BAFTA at 70: Do You Remember When?’ project, exploring and sharing BAFTA’s history and cultural influence over the past 70 years.
About the BFI
The BFI is the lead body for film in the UK with the ambition to create a flourishing film environment in which innovation, opportunity and creativity can thrive by:
- Connecting audiences to the widest choice of British and World cinema
- Preserving and restoring the most significant film collection in the world for today and future generations
- Championing emerging and world class film makers in the UK - investing in creative, distinctive and entertaining work
- Promoting British film and talent to the world
- Growing the next generation of film makers and audiences
The BFI is a Government arm’s-length body and distributor of Lottery funds for film. The BFI serves a public role which covers the cultural, creative and economic aspects of film in the UK. It delivers this role:
- As the UK-wide organisation for film, a charity core funded by Government
- By providing Lottery and Government funds for film across the UK
- By working with partners to advance the position of film in the UK.
Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter.
The BFI Board of Governors is chaired by Josh Berger CBE.
About Into Film
Into Film is an education charity that puts film at the heart of children and young people’s educational, cultural and personal development. Over half of UK schools engage with our programme of film clubs, special cinema screenings, and resources and training to support classroom teaching. Alongside rich online content for young audiences, this provides 5-19 year olds with inspiring opportunities to learn through and about film, and develop a passion for cinema. Into Film’s work is supported principally by the BFI through the National Lottery, and by the film industry through Cinema First.
Registered charity number 1154030
Registered Office: 31 Islington Green, London, N1 8DU
About the Independent Cinema Office
The Independent Cinema Office (ICO) is the national organisation for the development and support of independent film exhibition in the UK. It was established in 2003 and exists to bring a wider range of films to a wider range of audiences.
The ICO’s primary aims include promoting diversity in exhibition content, audience and location. This is achieved through providing programming advice, film distribution, exhibitor and distribution training, project consultancies and implementing audience development strategies both nationally and internationally.
For more information and for details on BAFTA Debuts bookings, please visit http://www.independentcinemaoffice.org.uk/films/baftadebuts
