Press Releases

In September, we hosted an industry event to spotlight the crucial roles of access, intimacy and wellbeing coordinators in film and TV production. Sets are high-pressure environments, often where complex challenges can arise, requiring the expertise of trained professionals to ensure the safety, inclusivity and wellbeing of cast and crew. These emerging roles have become essential in navigating these in a supportive, collaborative space. Across three panels, one message was clear: these coordinators are essential and interconnected, contributing significantly to the success of and enhancing and enriching our production environments. Editor and journalist Jennifer McShane was there and shares her key takeaways. 

In June we held a masterclass in which senior figures from BBC Children’s, Animation UK and the LEGO Group, as well as a presenter and a screenwriter, addressed the issue of Why Children’s Content Matters. TV journalist Robin Parker shares highlights of a wide-ranging discussion about an industry fighting for survival after years of under-investment, escalating competition for attention and the changing habits of a demanding audience. 

Last month, BAFTA held a masterclass on class representation in soaps, whose panels featured HODs, actors, casting directors, executive producers and writers from EastEnders, Casualty, Coronation Street, Hollyoaks and Emmerdale. Adrian Lobb, TV editor at The Big Issue, shares insights from the discussions, from the career pathways that soaps offer into the industry and what the TV industry can learn from soaps when it comes to authentic representations on screen to the positive impact that the genre's storylines can have on society. 

At the forthcoming BAFTA Games Awards on 11 April, SpecialEffect will receive BAFTA's Special Award in recognition for the outstanding work it does to enhance the quality of life of severely physically disabled people through access to games. Ahead of the ceremony, games journalist and author Laura Kate Dale spoke with its founder, Dr. Mick Donegan, and some of the people the charity has supported to paint a picture of just how important their work has been for players, and for the games industry itself.   

June Givanni has been doing the work of preserving, studying and celebrating Black filmmaking for over 40 years.

The BAFTA Games Awards celebrates its 20th anniversary next year. Ahead of the first ever public announcement of the awards longlist on Thursday, we spoke to three members – Tara Saunders, Charu Desodt and Sam Hughes – about BAFTA’s journey through games, how its initiatives benefit the development community, and how games have evolved as a narrative medium to tell meaningful stories in unique ways.  

​To celebrate the 10th anniversary of BAFTA Breakthrough in partnership with Netflix, we had the pleasure of welcoming back 12 distinguished alumni to 195 Piccadilly, who shared their invaluable insights and experiences from their year in the programme and updated us on everything they’ve accomplished in their remarkable careers so far. 

Ahead of the Cymru Awards next Sunday and the Scotland Awards in November, we caught up with Rebecca Hardy, BAFTA Cymru’s interim head, and Jude MacLaverty, BAFTA Scotland’s director, to hear how their work supports their local communities, champions the creative industries, and helps safeguard the future of the UK’s culture and heritage. 

This year BAFTA welcomes 550 new full members and almost 900 Connect members to our community. We spoke with eight of them to find out about their roles in the industry, why they joined, and what they’re most looking forward to as new members. Here’s what we learned..

Film and TV critic and BAFTA member Ashanti Omkar talks to BAFTA’s head of programmes, Mariayah Kaderbhai, about this week’s screening and lecture from Syrian documentary filmmaker and activist Hassan Akkad as part of Refugee Week 2023, and the priorities that help shape BAFTA’s year-round film