BAFTA Opens Applications for £12,000 UK Scholarships

The programme supports talented individuals in financial need to study a film, games or television course in the UK.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has today opened applications to the BAFTA Scholarship Programme, which enables talented British citizens in need of financial support to take an industry-recognised course in film, games or television in the UK.

Applications for the 2019-2020 academic year open today and close on Tuesday 28 May.

The scholarships are part of BAFTA’s charitable activity to support talented people at all stages of their career, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Each BAFTA Scholar will receive up to £12,000 towards their annual tuition fees, as well as mentoring support from a BAFTA member, and free access to BAFTA events around the UK.

In return, the scholarship recipients share their learning experiences on BAFTA Guru, BAFTA’s online learning resource, and participate in BAFTA’s outreach to young people.

Previous BAFTA Scholars have gone on to work on BAFTA-nominated or winning productions, and achieve BAFTA membership.

Sara Putt, Chair of BAFTA’s Learning and New Talent Committee, said:

“Over the years we’ve seen just how impactful a BAFTA scholarship can be for talented individuals who would otherwise be lost to our industries. We help to access and navigate a world that can seem impenetrable if you don’t have the financial means to develop your skills, nor existing relationships with industry gatekeepers. I encourage anyone with a talent, whatever their background or circumstances, to apply.”

The BAFTA Scholarship Programme has been made possible by the generous support of the Reuben Foundation, Susie Saunders, Linda Shire, Tinopolis and Warner Bros.

For a seventh year, three individuals studying in the UK will each receive one of the Prince William Scholarships in Film, Games and Television, supported by BAFTA and Warner Bros.

These scholarships are awarded in the name of HRH The Duke of Cambridge in his role as President of BAFTA. The recipients will have their fees funded as part of Warner Bros. Creative Talent, which includes a short paid work placement within the Warner Bros. group of companies, access to a Warner Bros. mentor, and invitations to a series of industry masterclasses.

From this year, the BAFTA Tinopolis Scholarship, supported by Tinopolis, a Welsh based independent television production and distribution group, will support a talented individual from Wales who wants to build a career in television.

The BAFTA Tinopolis Scholar will receive financial assistance throughout their postgraduate studies, as well as additional mentoring from a range of Tinopolis executives and creatives, depending on which area they choose to specialise in.

Three BAFTA Reuben Scholarships will support one individual each on a film, games and television course respectively.

The BAFTA Scholarship Programme in the UK is part of BAFTA’s wider global scholarship activity, which includes scholarships for Chinese nationals to study in the UK. The BAFTA US Scholarship Program supports British and international students studying in the US, as well local students from underserved groups in New York and Los Angeles.

BAFTA Scholars who have worked on BAFTA-nominated or winning productions (year of scholarships in brackets):

• Daisy Jacobs (2012) – Animation director won a BAFTA and was Oscar-nominated with her graduation short film The Bigger Picture at the EE British Academy Film Awards in 2015
  • Craig Dean Devine (2012) – Cinematographer on Pili, a film nominated for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer at the EE British Academy Film Awards in 2019. Craig, who has moved to Los Angeles, said: “I don’t think I’d be out here working and living in LA if it wasn’t for the support of the BAFTA scholarship.”
• Shivani Shah(2015) – Visual effects artist on Avengers: Infinity War and Ready Player One, both nominated for Special Visual Effects at the EE British Academy Film Awards in 2019
• Eloise Tomlinson (2014) – VFX supervisor on BAFTA-winning short animation A Love Story at the EE British Academy Film Awards in 2017
• Producer Rienkje Attoh (2013) became a fully-fledged member of BAFTA in 2018. Rienkje said: “Having an academy such as BAFTA support you and say that actually you’re a talent they want to nurture is truly a big deal … It’s helped my career and given me confidence and belief in myself. I’ve benefitted from the masterclasses greatly and I’ve met some amazing people. One job tends to leads to another, and the contacts and friendships I’ve made since my scholarship and film school is basically what’s kept me going as an independent filmmaker.” 

 About BAFTA: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is a world-leading independent arts charity that brings the very best work in film, games and television to public attention and supports the growth of creative talent in the UK and internationally. Through its Awards ceremonies and year-round programme of learning events and initiatives – which includes workshops, masterclasses, scholarships, lectures and mentoring schemes in the UK, USA and Asia – BAFTA identifies and celebrates excellence, discovers, inspires and nurtures new talent, and enables learning and creative collaboration. 

About Reuben Foundation: A UK registered charity, committed to the betterment of society in the UK and around the globe through focused charitable giving in the areas of education, health, community and culture. 

About Tinopolis Group: One of the largest television content suppliers in the UK and a producer of programmes for many of the top networks in the US. The group’s portfolio of production companies includes global sports producer Sunset+Vine, Mentorn Media, Firecracker, Pioneer, Tinopolis Cymru, the recently launched Thunderclap Media, drama producers Daybreak Pictures and Fiction Factory, as well as A.Smith & Co and Magical Elves in the US. Tinopolis also has its own distribution arm, Passion.

About Warner Bros. Creative Talent: Developing diverse, emerging talent from all backgrounds. The programme was set up in 2013 to identify and incubate a pipeline of creatives for the UK and Ireland’s screen industries, in film, TV, games and theatre. With scholarships, apprenticeships, work and training placements, mentoring and masterclasses, WB Creative Talent participants and alumni gain invaluable industry insight and experience and form a network of peers and creative collaborators.

Annually, the nationwide investment encompasses twelve higher education scholarships at six universities and three BAFTA Prince William Scholars; six apprenticeships; two trainee positions on every Warner Bros. film production in the UK and twenty-five training course places. The programme spans Warner Bros.’ UK film, TV, games and theatre operations including Warner Bros. Studio Leavesden, WBTVPUK, leading video games companies Rocksteady Studios and TT Games and Soho post-production house, De Lane Lea.

So far, over 250 young people have been supported by Warner Bros., most of whom now work in the industry. Creative Talent alumni have garnered 22 Awards and 24 award nominations to date, including BAFTA Scotland Best Short Film winner and BFI Vision Award and worked on over 150 productions.