The scheme recognises and nurture emerging talent with previous alumni including Josh O’Connor, Bella Ramsey and Rose Ayling-Ellis

BAFTA has unveiled its Breakthough cohort for 2025, with talent from Reunion, What It Feels Like For A Girl, Mr Loverman and Brian and Maggie among the 20-strong group.

This year’s UK cohort covers specialisms from costume design, production, casting, editing and games design, to performance, writing, directing, composing and cinematography.

Supported by Netflix, BAFTA Breakthrough is the arts charity’s new-talent initiative, and provides one-to-one meetings and career guidance, full BAFTA awards voting membership, access to BAFTA industry networking events and screenings, both in the UK and internationally.

Celebrating its 12th year, alumni include Ambika Mod, Bella Ramsey, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Mawaan Rizwan, Luna Carmoon, Paapa Essiedu, Josh O’Connor, Jessie Buckley, Vivian Oparah and Letitia Wright.

Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA, said: “It is an absolute pleasure to welcome this year’s outstanding participants of BAFTA Breakthrough. For 12 years this BAFTA talent programme has supported creatives and practitioners in film, games and television to navigate the often complex corridors of the screen arts. I am enormously grateful to Netflix for their continued support of BAFTA and for their shared passion and commitment to providing opportunity and career pathways for UK talent from all backgrounds.”

Anne Mensah, vice president, UK Content at Netflix, added: “Netflix is passionate about supporting and uplifting the next generation of talent from across the industry. The Breakthrough UK cohort announced today comprises such an exciting range of names, and it is an honour to continue to support an initiative that will help these brilliant creatives build connections, improve confidence, and ultimately launch the next phase of their careers.”

Breakthrough participants are selected through an open application process. This year’s cohort was selected by five sector-specialist groups made up of leading industry figures from the world of film, games and television with BAFTA and Netflix representatives.

The full list of this year’s BAFTA Breakthrough UK cohort is as follows:

Akinola Davies Jr – director/co-writer (My Father’s Shadow)
Alderney Middleton – series producer (Maddie + Triggs)
Cara Ellison – writer/ narrative designer (Ghost Town)
Ellis Howard – performer (What It Feels Like for a Girl)
Jodie-Simone Howe – costume designer (Mr Loverman)
Kyle Banks -director (Farewell North)
Laura Carreira – director/writer (On Falling)
Marie-Elena Dyche – producer (Harvest)
Mark Choi – composer (Empire of the Ants)
Matthew Gurney – performer (Reunion)
Megumi Inman – co-director/producer (Atomic People)
Nathalie Pitters – director of photography (Brian and Maggie)
Nathaniel Price – writer/associate producer (Mr Loverman)
Olaide Sadiq – director (Grenfell: Uncovered)
Owen Tooth – director (EastEnders)
Pinny Grylls – director/writer/editor (Grand Theft Hamlet)
Sally Beaumont – lead voice actor/script consultant (Old Skies)
Stanley Baxton – solo developer (LATEX, LEATHER, LIPSTICK, LOVE, LUST)
Stephanie Taylor – composer (The Search For Nicola Bulley)
Vivian Eguridu – series casting producer (Love is Blind UK Series 1)