London, 23 October: Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have met young beneficiaries of BAFTA’s support for new talent in the games industry during a visit to Dundee today. The event, at Abertay University, included winners of a UK-wide game design competition, as well as current and former games students who are supported by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). HRH The Duke of Cambridge is President of BAFTA.
The highlight of the visit was a meeting with Camylle Tuliao (14), Jack Reynolds (16), Louis Jackson (12) and Jack Mills (17), who spent the day at Abertay University as part of their prize for winning their respective categories in the BAFTA Young Game Designers (YGD) competition. BAFTA YGD, in association with Nominet Trust, aims to encourage young people to consider a career in games creation, and helps them access the inspirational creative minds behind their favourite games. The young designers are developing their games further with professional games studios in Dundee and Abertay students.
Their Royal Highnesses also met other talented individuals who have benefited from BAFTA initiatives:
- BAFTA-nominated game designer Dan Pearce was one of the first winners of a BAFTA YGD award in 2010, at the age of 16. Dan has since been honoured as a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit in partnership with Burberry in 2013, and was nominated for a BAFTA in 2014 with his debut commercial game Castles in the Sky.
- Game designer Sophia George, a former student at Abertay University, won the BAFTA Ones To Watch Award in association with Dare to be Digital in 2012. Sophia helped to develop the game of a BAFTA YGD winner in the same year, and was honoured as a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit in partnership with Burberry in 2013.
- BAFTA Scholarship recipients Kyle Horwood and Benjamin Luff are both studying for a postgraduate degree in games development at Abertay University.
Amanda Berry OBE, Chief Executive of BAFTA, who accompanied The Duke and Duchess at the event, said: “Today’s visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge has been a fantastic boost for these young people, who represent the future of the UK games industry. BAFTA has a long history of celebrating games, which stretches back over a decade. We’re proud to be supporting new talent, from across the UK, to enter this sector, and are grateful for the support of The Duke, our President, in this endeavour.”
For further information, please contact:
Hollie Rendall at Kindred Agency
Tel: 020 7010 0829
Email: [email protected]
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