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BAFTA Elects New Board Members in Los Angeles and New York

23 January 2018
BAFTA abbreviated logo

Arianna Bocco elected Chair of BAFTA New York

Kathryn Busby elected Deputy Chair of BAFTA Los Angeles

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced the newly elected members to its boards in Los Angeles and New York. Through its branches in the US – BAFTA Los Angeles and BAFTA New York – BAFTA connects creative industry professionals in the UK and US, supports cross-cultural collaboration and promotes British talent to global audiences.

Arianna Bocco has been elected to serve as Chair of the Board of BAFTA New York.  Bocco, who previously served as Vice Chair of BAFTA New York, is Executive Vice President, Acquisitions and Production, IFC Films and Sundance Selects, three multi-platform film distribution labels owned and operated by AMC Networks, Inc. Luke Parker Bowles, having served his two year term as Chair, will step down to the position of Vice Chair for a one year period.

Also elected to serve on board of BAFTA New York for three years are Maria Ishak, Vice President, North America Sales at all3media International, and Melinda Matlin, Rights Administrator at NBCUniversal and Vice Chair of BAFTA New York Screening Committee.

In Los Angeles, Kathryn Busby has been elected Deputy Chair of the board, succeeding Peter Morris, who has reached his term limit as a board member. Busby, who first joined the board in 2017, is Senior Vice President of Development, Sony Pictures TV Networks.

Also elected to serve on the board for BAFTA Los Angeles are Sandro Monetti, Entertainment Journalist and Media Analyst and Roy Taylor, Corporate Vice President, Head of Media and Entertainment, AMD Studios.

Arianna Bocco, EVP of Acquisitions and Production of IFC Films and Sundance Selects and Chair of BAFTA New York, commented: “It is a privilege and honor to serve as Chair of the Board and I am extremely excited to further the mission of BAFTA – both in New York and internationally.”

Kathryn Busby, Senior Vice President of Development at Sony Pictures TV Networks and Deputy Chair of BAFTA Los Angeles, commented: “I am honored to be joining the team in Los Angeles as Deputy Chair. I look forward to continuing the incredible work BAFTA LA does in recognizing excellence in the arts, community outreach, and across-the-pond collaborations with BAFTA in the UK, and bringing further support to the continued growth of our television sector.”

Kieran Breen, Chair of BAFTA Los Angeles, commented: “With so many of BAFTA’s members based in the US, our presence in New York and Los Angeles is a critical part of our global mission. We are pleased to be welcoming Kathryn, Roy and Sandro to the Board in Los Angeles, and we look forward to working with our fellow members around the world to deliver another strong year of important initiatives.”

BAFTA New York’s Board of Directors comprises:
Arianna Bocco (Chair)
Luke Parker Bowles (Vice Chair)
Lyn Familant (Secretary)
Barry Dale Johnson
Celine Rattray
Dee Poku
Doug Schwalbe
Linda Kahn
Lisa Honig
Maria Ishak^
Melinda Matlin^

BAFTA Los Angeles’ Board of Directors comprises:
Kieran Breen (Chair)
Kathryn Busby (Deputy Chair)
Phil Cross (Treasurer)
Gary Goldberger (Secretary)
Adam Bialow
Beverley Ward
Chris Rice
Karl Stewart
Roy Taylor^
Sandro Monetti^
Sophie Watts
Tara Halloran

^New board members in 2018

For further information:
Eleanor Pickering at BAFTA (UK)
T +44 (0) 20 7734 5863
E [email protected]

Elyse Weissman at SLATE PR (Los Angeles)
T (310) 461-0114
E [email protected]

About BAFTA

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is a world-leading independent arts charity that brings the very best work in film, games and television to public attention and supports the growth of creative talent in the UK and internationally. Through its Awards ceremonies and year-round programme of learning events and initiatives – which includes workshops, masterclasses, scholarships, lectures and mentoring schemes in the UK, USA and Asia – BAFTA identifies and celebrates excellence, discovers, inspires and nurtures new talent, and enables learning and creative collaboration. For advice and inspiration from the best creative minds in working in film, games and television, visit www.bafta.org/guru. For more, visit www.bafta.org.

BAFTA Los Angeles serves as a bridge between the Hollywood and British production and entertainment business communities. Its commitment to professional and community education is at the heart of all activity, including an inner-city outreach programme, screenings, seminars, Behind Closed Doors series, Q&As, scholarships for British students studying in the US, and a Heritage Archive project, which preserves in-depth interviews with the industry's leading talents for future generations. BAFTA Los Angeles celebrates and promotes excellence through its annual Britannia Awards, Awards Season Film and Television Tea Parties and the Student Film Awards. www.bafta.org/losangeles

BAFTA New York, founded in 1996, recognizes and promotes the achievements of British film and television in New York and all along the East Coast. It hosts an extensive roster of feature film, television and documentary screenings, panel discussions, premieres and co-produced events with other established organizations in the film and television industry, and runs an educational outreach program aimed at underserved youth in New York City that includes the BAFTA New York Media Studies Scholarship Program. It is also committed to looking ahead, exploring the intersection of entertainment and technology while ensuring its programming and partnerships serve its audiences, its members and the public. BAFTA New York is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Corporation and relies on income from membership subscriptions, individual donations, trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships to support its ongoing work. www.bafta.org/new-york