The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), has launched a new initiative to bring Chinese emerging talent in film, games and television to international attention.
BAFTA Breakthrough China will see a jury of Chinese and British industry experts find five ‘Breakthrough’ talents from across China to take part in the year-long mentoring and guidance programme. Winners will be announced in October, and then flown to the UK to be introduced to British creatives in order to share their knowledge and experiences with their British peers.
Breakthrough China was announced last month at the Shanghai International Film Festival by Amanda Berry OBE, Chief Executive of BAFTA, who was joined by British actor Tom Hiddleston and Wendy Yu, Founder and CEO of Yu Holdings and sponsor of the initiative.
“We are delighted to be announcing BAFTA Breakthrough China, the first time BAFTA’s flagship new talent initiative has taken place outside of the UK,” said Berry. “BAFTA Breakthrough China will identify and support talented newcomers, bring together passionate and creative people, and encourage closer collaboration and cultural exchange between the Chinese and UK industries, for our mutual benefit.”
BAFTA Breakthrough China press conference, L:R Amanda Berry, Tom Hiddleston and Wendy Yu
Chinese industry professionals from the field of TV, film and gaming are invited to recommend talent who can then submit an application before the August 16 deadline. Whether they are a director, writer, producer, actor or game developer, as long as they have a desire to produce content for global audiences, work with UK talent and have proven themselves at their level, they are suitable for entry.
“Over the years we have gained a greater understanding and appreciation of the Chinese creative industries,” said Berry. “But we recognise that we still have a lot to learn about new talent in China, so we are reaching out to members of the Chinese film, games and television industries to help us by recommending talented individuals and encouraging them to apply.”
The initiative follows on from BAFTA’s Breakthrough Brits, which was launched in 2013 and has seen over 100 British stars emerge into the mainstream. Previous Breakthrough Brits include actors Letitia Wright (Black Panther and Black Mirror) and Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Homecoming) and games producer Dan Gray (Monument Valley). Over forty percent of Breakthrough Brits have gone on to become BAFTA winners or nominees at the prestigious film, games or television awards ceremonies.
BAFTA’s Breakthrough Brits, who are selected by a jury of leading industry professionals, receive one-to-one mentoring and career guidance, access to BAFTA events and networking opportunities in the UK and internationally. Supporters of the initiative in recent years include the actors Oliva Colman and Tilda Swinton, actor-producer Brad Pitt, directors Tom Harper and Barry Jenkins, game designers Brenda Romero and Tim Schafer, and actor-writers Sharon Horgan and Amy Schumer. BAFTA will offer similar opportunities through Breakthrough China, with access to British, Chinese and international industry figures.
Over forty percent of Breakthrough Brits have gone on to become BAFTA winners or nominees
“Initiatives like BAFTA Breakthrough China are instrumental in helping to strengthen the careers of exciting new talent, and to promote them on a global scale,” said Tom Hiddleston, who is an ambassador for BAFTA Breakthrough China. “I have seen first-hand all the fantastic ways in which BAFTA supports Breakthrough British talent, and it’s wonderful that they will now be doing the same in China. There is so much creativity and craftsmanship in China: I’m excited to see who the winners will be.”
BAFTA Breakthrough China press conference in Shanghai, Tom Hiddleston and Wendy Yu
Since 2013, BAFTA has worked with partners in mainland China and Hong Kong to deliver masterclasses and international scholarships, whilst engaging world-renowned, award-winning filmmakers, actors and craftspeople such as Johnnie To, Zhang Yimou, Tony Ching, Hugh Bonneville, Lois Burwell, Naomi Donne, Lindy Hemming, Duncan Kenworthy and Eddie Redmayne. Building on these events and initiatives, BAFTA Breakthrough China promotes a spirit of open, creative collaboration between the UK and China and encourages cross-cultural exchange.
“People are willing and interested in working with China and have seen creative talent coming out of China but without having a network or someone on the ground to bounce ideas off, it was a barrier to get things up and running,” explained Tim Hunter, BAFTA’s director of learning and new talent. “This initiative embodies the spirit of connecting people and the long-established trend of looking at new talent but it is also helping people build a network at the start of their career where everyone can learn from each other,” he said.
“Nurturing China’s talent of tomorrow across the arts continues to be a key driver for Yu Holdings as we look to foster creativity and contribute towards the growth of a wider eco-system,” said Wendy Yu, CEO of Yu Holdings. “Through our partnerships, we strive to provide opportunities for acceleration as well as creative-cultural exchange – we are thrilled to be working with BAFTA on Breakthrough China, the first initiative of its kind, which we know will help propel the careers of our rising stars.”
