The
British
Academy
of
Film
and
Television
Arts
(BAFTA)
today
(November
30,
2020)
announced
that
applications
are
now
open
for
BAFTA
Breakthrough
India,
supported
by
Netflix.
The
initiative
marks
BAFTA's
first
steps
into
India,
showcasing
and
supporting
the
next
generation
of
creative
talent
in
film,
games
and
television
globally
alongside
the
UK,
USA
and
China.
BAFTA
also
announced
today,
A.
R.
Rahman
as
the
ambassador
for
BAFTA
Breakthrough
India
2020-21.
This
association
with
Rahman
marks
the
continued
development
of
creative
relationships
between
the
UK
and
India,
enabling
and
supporting
collaboration
between
the
two
nations
and
showcasing
the
incredible
talent
India
has
to
offer
across
different
regions
on
a
global
scale.
A.R.
Rahman,
composer
and
BAFTA
Breakthrough
ambassador,
said,
"I
am
happy
to
be
working
with
BAFTA
to
discover
some
of
the
amazing
talent
that
India
has
to
offer
in
film,
games
and
television.
This
is
a
unique
opportunity
for
promising
artists
to
be
supported
by
a
world-renowned
organisation,
to
not
only
make
connections
with
other
talented
creatives
across
the
world
but
to
be
mentored
by
BAFTA-winners
and
nominees.
I
am
looking
forward
to
seeing
the
brilliant
talent
chosen
from
India
to
be
showcased
on
a
global
stage."
"We
are
absolutely
delighted
to
be
opening
Breakthrough
applications
in
India
for
the
first
time," says
Amanda
Berry
OBE,
Chief
Executive
of
BAFTA.
"I
am
also
incredibly
grateful
for
the
invaluable
support
of
our
brilliant
Ambassador
A.
R.
Rahman,
an
industry
leader
in
his
creative
work
and
someone
who
shares
our
passion
for
identifying
and
nurturing
new
talent.
He
is
well
positioned
to
support
the
initiative,
with
his
broad
spectrum
of
work
drawing
recognition
across
Hindi,
Tamil,
and
Telugu
films,
which
will
help
BAFTA
to
appeal
to
a
wide
section
of
the
industry."
As
part
of
BAFTA
Breakthrough
India,
a
jury
of
British
and
Indian
industry
experts
will
select
five
talents
from
across
India
to
take
part
in
the
year-long
mentoring
and
guidance
program.
The
chosen
participants
will
receive
one-to-one
mentoring,
global
networking
opportunities,
free
access
to
BAFTA
events
and
screenings
for
12
months,
and
full
voting
BAFTA
membership.
The
chosen
talent
will
also
connect
with
and
learn
from
some
of
the
best
in
the
British
and
Indian
creative
industries,
share
their
expertise
with
peers
around
the
world,
gain
access
to
opportunities
beyond
geographical
borders,
and
be
promoted
as
BAFTA
Breakthrough
artists
globally.
BAFTA
Breakthrough
selects
talent
through
a
cross-industry
jury
of
leading
professionals,
hand-picked
to
ensure
a
diverse
selection
of
experienced
voices.
Jurors
for
the
UK
&
US
cohorts
included
Fiona
Shaw
(actress),
Paapa
Essiedu
(actor),
Edward
Enninful
(Editor-in-Chief
-
British
Vogue),
Jodie
Azhar
(Games
Developer)
and
Kate
Townsend
(Director)
to
name
a
few.
The
2020
Jurors
for
Breakthrough
India
are
still
to
be
announced.
BAFTA
Breakthrough,
launched
globally
in
May
2020
and
previously
known
as
Breakthrough
Brits,
has
been
running
in
the
UK
since
2013
and
in
China
since
2019,
but
this
year
marks
the
first
time
the
initiative
is
recognising
talent
globally
across
the
UK,
US,
India
and
China.
To
celebrate
the
first
global
cohort
of
BAFTA
Breakthrough
participants
and
encourage
cross-cultural
connections
and
collaboration,
this
year's
BAFTA
Breakthrough
global
participants
will
be
celebrated
and
showcased
together
in
2021.
The
initiative
will
continue
to
use
digital
communications
in
the
coming
months
to
enhance
cross-cultural
networking
across
the
globe.
Netflix
is
the
official
supporting
partner
for
BAFTA
Breakthrough,
in
the
UK,
USA
and
India,
providing
integral
support
in
the
global
expansion.
BAFTA
and
Netflix
share
a
joint
vision
to
celebrate
and
provide
opportunities
for
emerging
talent
across
the
world,
bringing
together
international
communities
across
global
networks,
in
order
to
develop
and
support
stories
and
voices
from
different
cultures.