The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced the UK’s most promising future stars of film, television and games. The 2016 Breakthrough Brits, in partnership with Burberry, are 18 talented newcomers selected by a jury of industry experts, and were earlier this week.
The Breakthrough Brits were chosen by a jury of industry experts after a UK-wide open call for applications and nominations. At the reception, hosted by BBC Radio 1 presenter Greg James, actors Rosamund Pike, Jennifer Saunders, Joanne Froggatt and Will Poulter introduced the successful honourees who included:
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Alex Grahame – Games Artist
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Eben Bolter – Cinematographer
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Ellen Husain – Producer
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Florence Pugh – Actress
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Helen Walsh – Writer-Director
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Jodie Azhar – Lead Technical Artist
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Jon McKellan – Creative Director
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Kayode Ewumi – Actor/Writer
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Malachi Kirby – Actor
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Marnie Dickens – Writer
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Matt Hyde – Creative Director
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Michael Berliner – Producer
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Nainita Desai – Composer
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Rebecca Lloyd – Editor
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Ruth Madeley – Actress
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Tim Wicksteed – Game Developer
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Tom Davis – Actor/Writer
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Vinay Patel – Writer
Amanda Berry OBE, Chief Executive of BAFTA, said: “Now in its fourth year, Breakthrough Brits, in partnership with Burberry, is our headline new talent initiative showcasing, celebrating and supporting the next generation of British creative talent in film, television and games. Our 2016 Breakthrough Brits come from a range of backgrounds and represent the variety of specialisms that make up our creative industries. I’m thrilled to see such talented individuals recognised this year.”
BAFTA and Burberry share a vision of celebrating British talent and giving them the tools to develop their skills at the start of their careers, wherever they are in the world. The annual Breakthrough Brits initiative, which was launched in partnership with Burberry in 2013, celebrates and supports the UK’s future stars of film, television and games. Honourees receive one-to-one mentoring, an international travel bursary, guidance sessions and networking opportunities, as well as free access to BAFTA events, for 12 months.
Since the launch of the initiative, previous Breakthrough Brits have gone on to be recognised at BAFTA’s awards ceremonies, including four BAFTA winners: games producer Daniel Gray and game designer Rex Crowle (as part of the development teams for Monument Valley and Tearaway respectively), screenwriter Dominic Mitchell (In The Flesh), and producer Marc Williamson (The Last Chance School).
BAFTA Breakthrough Brits jury members included: Anne Morrison (Jury Chair) – Deputy Chair of BAFTA and former Director of the BBC Academy; Lee Schuneman (Games Sub-Committee Chair) – Studio Head of Microsoft’s Lift London; Marc Samuelson (Film and TV Sub-Committee Co-Chair) – Producer, owner of Samuelson Productions and Deputy Chair of BAFTA Film Committee; Ade Rawcliffe (Film and TV Sub-Committee Co-Chair) – Creative Diversity Manager, Channel ; Briony Hanson – Director of Film, British Council; Joe Dempsie – Actor; John Willis – Chief Executive of Mentorn Media, Group Creative Director of Tinopolis plc, and former Chair of BAFTA; Liz Warner – Former Channel 4 Commissioning Editor, and founder of independent production company, betty; Lucinda Coxon – Writer; Martin Phipps – Composer; Mike Bithell – Games designer and developer; Pat Younge – Managing Director, Sugar Films; Patrick O'Luanaigh – CEO nDreams; Phil Harrison – Games developer; Rosamund Pike – Actress; Sanjay Singhal – CEO, Voltage Productions; Sarah Gavron – Director.
To find out more about this year's Breathrough Brits, click here or see below.
Seen @bbcthree’s #HoodDocumentary? You’ll recognise @KayEwumi #BreakthroughBrits pic.twitter.com/NoDKmMpiJU
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) October 25, 2016
Watched @bbcthree’s Murdered By My Father? Meet its writer, @VinayPatel #BreakthroughBrits pic.twitter.com/uirJ1zsDOZ
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) October 25, 2016
You might have heard some of composer @nainitadesai’s work on @BBCFOUR’s Mumbai High: The Musical ???? #BreakthroughBrits pic.twitter.com/PCbflW1ihk
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) October 25, 2016
Malachi @JustCallMeKirby stars in @RootsSeries as Kunta Kinte & in the latest series of Black Mirror #BreakthroughBrits pic.twitter.com/T29d8ZPmJi
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) October 25, 2016
Writer Marnie Dickens’ @bbcthree series #Thirteen is the most requested show on @BBCiPlayer so far this year ???? #BreakthroughBrits pic.twitter.com/9jAgSEbvzg
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) October 25, 2016
Designer Matthew Hyde worked on #SeaHeroQuest, a game which helps scientists research dementia #BreakthroughBrits pic.twitter.com/XsrY44Mk4q
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) October 25, 2016
Lead technical artist @JodieAzhar manages a team of over 70 artists working on the @totalwar series. #BreakthroughBrits pic.twitter.com/AJZixGh9NR
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) October 25, 2016
.@Florence_Pugh’s first audition got her a leading role in @TheFalling_Film with @Maisie_Williams #BreakthroughBrits pic.twitter.com/z1dM4P90oB
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) October 25, 2016
Cinematographer @ebenbolter developed his skills by making 50 short films in a year! ???? #BreakthroughBrits pic.twitter.com/WkwYreCoBo
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) October 25, 2016
Tim Wicksteed took a gamble and left a full-time job to work on his game Big Pharma ???? #BreakthroughBrits pic.twitter.com/k2SKMso2Zo
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) October 25, 2016
Producer @michaelberliner‘s short film Emotional Fusebox was nominated for a BAFTA in 2015 #BreakthroughBrits pic.twitter.com/InEkWBVNjv
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) October 25, 2016
Helen Walsh published four novels before writing & directing her debut film @ViolatorsMovie ???? #BreakthroughBrits pic.twitter.com/HRcPiVLF6e
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) October 25, 2016
.@Alex_Grahame got her job with BAFTA-winning game studio The @ChineseRoom before she even graduated from uni ???? #BreakthroughBrits pic.twitter.com/9k6jplGUSG
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) October 25, 2016
Meet game developer @jon_nocode, who designed the introduction sequence for @AlienIsolation ???? #BreakthroughBrits pic.twitter.com/89n4WZLnMg
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) October 25, 2016
.@ruth_madeley was BAFTA-nominated for her debut role in @bbcthree’s Don’t Take My Baby #BreakthroughBrits pic.twitter.com/Fp8nAc2vMG
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) October 25, 2016
From builder to #BreakthroughBrits, actor & writer @BigTomD had an unusual start in the industry… pic.twitter.com/aAX9o43BMZ
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) October 25, 2016
Rebecca Lloyd helped to edit #AmericanHoney, The Hollow Crown & Fish Tank ✂ #BreakthroughBrits pic.twitter.com/g6o9bY1kuS
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) October 25, 2016
Loved #TheHunt? Producer & director @ellen_husain travelled the world to film it ???? #BreakthroughBrits pic.twitter.com/oavcxZeiBC
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) October 25, 2016