26/09/2013 - 17 up and coming newcomers in the fields of film, television and games to be celebrated

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced the first ever BAFTA Breakthrough Brits. The 17 newcomers who are making a name for themselves within film, television or games, will be celebrated at an event on October 21. The Breakthrough Brits will receive a year of free access to BAFTA events as well as mentoring and guidance sessions as they move into the next stage of their careers. A special publication featuring the Breakthrough Brits will be distributed to industry and to career-starters across the country.

The Breakthrough Brits, chosen by an industry jury led by BAFTA Chairman John Willis are: actors Paul Brannigan, James Floyd, Tom Holland, Ade Oyefeso, Chloe Pirrie, and Sharon Rooney; writers/directors Rowan Athale and Zam Salim; writer Dominic Mitchell; game developers Oliver Clarke, Mitu Khandaker and Dan Pearce; game designers Rex Crowle and Sophia George; broadcaster Arthur Williams; and producers Ed Barratt and Nisha Parti. 

Willis said, “Through BAFTA Breakthrough Brits, we want to turbo-charge the careers of really talented people right across the spectrum of the creative industries; people who are just at the point of breaking through to the next level and becoming really serious players in their industry, and could benefit from the help, support, encouragement and nurturing that an organisation like BAFTA can give them.”

Breakthrough Brits was formerly an initiative to unearth Black and Asian talent started by the now defunct UK Film Council.