Encouraging creativity in young people is incredibly important. It can help them to develop life skills, boost mental wellbeing, and aid self-expressions.

A great example of the impact helping young people embrace their creative side can have is BAFTA’s yearly Young Presenters competition.

Every year two young people are selected to help us host events and content that is aimed at their peers. And as 2025’s Young Presenters competition launches what better time to catch up with two of our previous winners, Samaira Iqbal and Tristan Thompson, about why embracing creativity is so important for them.

Given this year’s Young Presenters competition involves applicants submitting a short film on the topic of Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week theme of Know Yourself, Grow Yourself, let’s find out how Samaira and Tristan have done just that.

BAFTA: What does being a BAFTA Young Presenter mean to you?

Samaira Iqbal: Being a BAFTA Young Presenter has been a life-changing experience. It’s given me the chance to connect with a range of inspiring creatives and gain invaluable insights into the industry. From meeting Lady Gaga to interviewing Dame Judi Dench, I’ve had experiences I never imagined possible, and I’m very grateful to BAFTA for opening these doors.  What makes it even more meaningful is being able to represent the South Asian, Muslim, Neurodivergent, CODA (Children of Deaf Adults) communities, which is something I hold very close to my heart.

Tristan Thompson: So much! The events and interviews I do with BAFTA are always super special and fun. Before I entered the competition, I would have never guessed that I would have been hosting events and interviews with the incredible BAFTA! I’ve had so many unforgettable experiences as a Young Presenter so far, and BAFTA will now always be a part of me.

B: How do you think you’ve grown since winning Young Presenter?
SI: Over the last four years, working with BAFTA has been an incredible journey of personal and professional growth. I’ve learned the art of adaptability through various different presenting experiences – from online interviews during Covid-19 to in-person interviews, live Q+As, press junkets and even the adrenaline rush of red carpet interviews. Each experience has pushed me out of my comfort zone and developed my confidence as a presenter.

TT: I’ve learned so much from the industry professionals I’ve met and become more comfortable improvising on stage/during interviews – this is definitely something I’ve learned from the previous winners. My enthusiasm has grown, if that is even possible, in trying new things and putting myself out there, knowing the experience which I have/am gaining is helping so much. Also, thanks to BAFTA, I do believe that anything is possible, and you really don’t know what you could be doing next week; so be ready and open for everything!

B: How do you think the programme helps encourage creativity in young people?
SI: The team behind BAFTA are so amazing at creating an environment where you feel comfortable but also supported in being able to express yourself creatively. As a presenter, you’re often given the opportunity to create your own questions for interviews, which lets you bring your own unique twist to the conversation.

TT: Just applying for the Young Presenter competition can spark so much creativity and confidence and encourage people like me to put themselves out there and get thinking about important topics. The Young BAFTA YouTube, where you can see some of the events and interviews, we do, is a great place and simply watching a few videos can inspire other budding presenters.  When I hosted talks at the Young BAFTA Showcase, I met with so many other kids who had been inspired by the talks and were super passionate to apply for the competition after meeting the Young Presenter team and hearing what we do.  This was great to see!

B: And what have you learnt about yourself through the process?
SI: I’ve learned that preparation is crucial for interviews because the more you know about the person you’re interviewing, the easier it is to connect. It is also important to remember that not every interview will go perfectly. However, each experience helps you improve and your presenting skills naturally get better over time.

TT: I’ve learned to give everything a go, I would have never thought that my 2-minute entry video would mean I would now be doing some awesome things with BAFTA and meeting so many incredible people. You never know where somethings going to take you, so be yourself and give everything a go!

B: Finally, how do you find inspiration for creative projects? And what motivates you to keep going even when things don’t go as planned?
SI: As someone with ADHD, my best creative ideas often come at the most random times, like 3am on a Tuesday! When things don’t go to plan, like messing up my lines, I remind myself that the person I’m interviewing is just another human being. So I just laugh about it with them, just like I would with my best friend, and carry on.

TT: Right now, I’m making a short film with friends, and I found meeting people and listening to their stories always sparks new ideas, as does watching new TV shows and films. For me, if I sit down with a pic n mix and watch a new film, maybe something completely random that I wouldn’t normally watch, by the end I will have so many creative ideas. When things aren’t going as planned, I always take a break, and do something completely different – cook something, walk the dog, go for a bike ride and then come back to it, or I might just talk through whatever I’m finding difficult with somebody.

  • If you (or someone you know) is aged 10-18, lives in the UK, and aspires to be a presenter take a look at this year’s Young Presenters’ competition page for full details of how to apply.