The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) today announced the 18 talented newcomers chosen by members of the film, television and games industries as the 2014 BAFTA Breakthrough Brits, in partnership with Burberry. The honourees were revealed this evening at a reception hosted by BBC Radio 1 presenter Greg James at the global Burberry flagship store, 121 Regent Street, in London.
The Breakthrough Brits were chosen by a jury of industry experts after a UK-wide open call for applications and nominations. At the reception, actors Douglas Booth, Sam Claflin, Olivia Colman and George Mackay introduced the successful honourees as: writers Jonathan Asser and Chris Lunt; producer/directors Mike Brett & Steve Jamison, and Marc Williamson; games producers Charu Desodt and Daniel Gray; directors Destiny Ekaragha and Sarah Walker; composer Tandis Jenhudson; presenter Ashley Kendall; actors Katie Leung, Stacy Martin and Callum Turner; game developer Reece Millidge; actor/producer Ray Panthaki; game designer William Pugh; and producer AJ Riach. More details about the honourees can be found at: http://bit.ly/Breakthrough-Brits.
The event was attended by influential industry figures, all keen to meet and interact with the creative stars of tomorrow, including commissioners, agents, and games studio heads. Also in attendance were the inaugural Breakthrough Brits from 2013, and rising stars from other creative fields. Guests included: Amanda Berry OBE, Chief Executive of BAFTA, Burberry Chief Creative and Chief Executive Officer Christopher Bailey, film producers Duncan Kenworthy OBE (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill) and David Parfitt (Shakespeare in Love, My Week with Marilyn); director Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Four Weddings and a Funeral); Christine Langan, Head of BBC Films; and actor Jamie Campbell Bower (The Twilight Saga, The Mortal Instruments).
During the evening, Burberry Acoustic musician Billie Marten performed a live set.
BAFTA Breakthrough Brits, which was launched in conjunction with Burberry in 2013, is now in its second year. The initiative celebrates and supports the UK’s future stars of film, television and games through a bespoke career development programme of mentoring, guidance sessions and networking opportunities, as well as free access to BAFTA events, over 12 months. ‘Friends of BAFTA Breakthrough Brits’, who have offered to lend their support to the initiative, include Edith Bowman, Douglas Booth, Miranda Hart, Emma Freud, Paul Greengrass, Blake Harrison, Toby Jones, Ian Livingstone CBE, Simon Pegg, Sheridan Smith, and Fiona Sperry.
Burberry and BAFTA have a shared 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. As part of its partnership with BAFTA Los Angeles, Burberry will be supporting the 2014 Britannia Awards on 30 October by honouring Emma Watson with The Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year presented by Burberry. This award pays tribute to a talented British artist whose outstanding performances have demonstrated the high quality of their craftsmanship.
Full list of BAFTA Breakthrough Brits in 2014
Jonathan Asser - Writer
Mike Brett & Steve Jamison - Producer/Directors
Charu Desodt - Games producer
Destiny Ekaragha - Director
Daniel Gray - Games producer
Tandis Jenhudson - Composer
Ashley Kendall - Presenter
Katie Leung - Actress
Chris Lunt - Writer
Stacy Martin – Actress
Reece Millidge - Game developer
Ray Panthaki – Actor/Producer
William Pugh - Game designer
AJ Riach - Producer
Callum Turner - Actor
Sarah Walker - Director
Marc Williamson - Producer/Director
BAFTA Breakthrough Brits jury members:
John Willis (Jury Chair) - Chief Executive of Mentorn Media, Group Creative Director of Tinopolis plc, and Deputy Chairman of BAFTA
Georg Backer (Games Sub-Committee Chair) - Game developer
Hilary Bevan Jones (Film and TV Sub-Committee Co-Chair) - Producer
James Dean (Film and TV Sub-Committee Co-Chair) - Producer
Richard Ayoade - Actor
Ronan Bennett - Screenwriter
Barbara Broccoli OBE - Producer
Charles Cecil MBE - Co-Founder of Revolution Software
Olivia Colman - Actor
Tim Corrie - Agent
Molly Dineen - Documentary director, cinematographer and producer
Anne Dudley - Composer
Nina Kristensen - Game developer
Polly Leys - Producer
Mike Newell - Director
Jack O’Connell - Actor
Ula Pontikos - Cinematographer
Lee Schuneman - Studio Head at Microsoft’s Lift London
Piers Wenger - Head of Drama at Channel 4 and E4
For more information about BAFTA Breakthrough Brits, in partnership with Burberry, go to: http://bit.ly/Breakthrough-Brits.
This year’s initiative is also supported by Rosewood London and Audi.
