6 hours ago
4
Take a look at who you should be keeping an eye on in the world of TV and film.
The BAFTA Breakthrough list has just been released, and we're just as excited as you to see what emerging talents have made the list.
Supported by Netflix, the BAFTA Breakthrough showcases talented individuals across a number of disciplines who are on the rise in their respected fields. Previous inductees include now-household names such as, among others, Florence Pugh, Tom Holland, and Letitia Wright.
Warner Bros. Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
A word from BAFTA CEO, Jane Millichip: “BAFTA Breakthrough, now in its 11th year, spotlights a host of emerging and talented ‘must-watch’ creative practitioners working across film, games and television.
This year we have an amazing roster of casting directors, producers, writers, performers, lead artists, cinematographers, lead developers, and more. We urge the industry to take note. A huge thank you to Netflix, whose support makes BAFTA Breakthrough possible.”
So, let's take a look at a few notable names from this years cohort, and where you may know them from.
1. Alice Russell
Bafta / Manuel Vazquez/BAFTA
Alice Russell joins this year's cohort as a director and documentary film maker. Her debut feature, If the Streets Were on Fire, released in 2022, followed BikeStormz, a mission to tackle knife crime in London through collective cycle rides. The documentary highlighted collisions between the initiative, local residents and police, while focusing on wider issues of tackling austerity, knife crime and discrimination.
2. Luna Carmoon
Bafta / Manuel Vazquez/BAFTA
Writer and director Luna Carmoon released her first feature film, Hoard, earlier this year, and, as her inclusion in this years Breakthroughs suggest, is certainly a name on the rise. Starring Stranger Things' Joseph Quinn, Hoard is a wild and somewhat unsettling dive into the childhood memories of Maria, a teenager in foster care is South London. With the talented writer's next film to be an "anti-man manifesto", Luna is certainly one to keep an eye on.
3. Kyla Harris and Lee Getty
Bafta / Manuel Vazquez/BAFTA
Kyla and Lee's hit BBC comedy-drama, We Might Regret This gained critical acclaim this year, and has already been commissioned for two additional six-part series. The show follows Freya (played by Kyla), a disabled Canadian artist who has moved to London for Abe, a 50-year-old straight-edged lawyer. Needing full-time care assistant, Freya invites Jo, her chaotic and direct best friend to take the role. It's no surprise the co-writers were added to this years cohort, as the show was touted as, “BBC’s smartest, sharpest sitcom since Fleabag."
4. Lauren Sequeira
Bafta / Manuel Vazquez/BAFTA
Having already written on the hit show Gangs of London, Lauren has been emerging as a writer for a while, and her new series, Domino Day, that debuted in January, marks the next step in her career. The show, set in modern-day Manchester, is about a witch who feeds off human energy, and uses dating apps to seek abusive male victims. With one review calling it 'Buffy for a new generation', it's no surprise Lauren is part of this year's Breakthroughs.
5. Mawaan Rizwan
Bafta / Manuel Vazquez/BAFTA
The writer, actor, and comedian debuted his new series Juice, on BBC Three this year. Starring across Russell Tovey as Guy, Mawaan himself plays Jamma, the cartoonish millennial. We watch the silliness unfold as Jamma's childlike persona time and time again collides with being an actual adult. It's cringe comedy at its best and an ode to slapstick.
6. Otto Baxter
Bafta / Manuel Vazquez/BAFTA
Otto's short film, The Puppet Asylum was the subject of the feature-length documentary, Otto Baxter: Not A Fucking Horror Story, but has garnered praise independent of the associated doc. The Puppet Asylum is a macabre, horror-comedy depiction of the life of an unwanted child on a path to gain control of their life. The story is Otto's own; speaking about it, he said:
“Making my vision come to life has been totally mind blowing. Without exception the whole team has made me feel welcomed, listened to, included and respected as a fellow artist. I am the first writer and director with Down Syndrome commissioned by a British broadcaster to make a film like this, but hopefully not the last."
7. Nava Mau
Pablo Constanza / BAFTA/Pablo Constanza
One of the US additions from this years Breakthroughs, you'll recognise Nava from one of the hottest shows this year, Baby Reindeer, where she played Teri, the girlfriend of Donny Dunn. The role won her a nomination for a Primetime Emmy award and you'll likely be seeing more of her over the coming years.
8. Erica Tremblay
Jessica Chou / Jessica Chou/BAFTA
Another inductee from the states, Erica is a director who has recently released her debut feature film. Fancy Dance. which got glowing reviews. Starring a superb Lily Gladstone as Jax, Fancy Dance is a Native American family drama which tells the story of an outsider, who's not lead the most straight-edged life, on a road-trip with her niece. With the excellent reception to Erica's debut feature film, expect to see a lot more of her.
)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25749878/spectra_smartwatch1.jpg)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2913888/sling10_2040.0.jpg)
)
English (US) ·