The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) announces the selected participants of the first-ever BAFTA Breakthrough India Initiative, in partnership with Netflix. An esteemed jury of industry experts including Anupam Kher, Monika Shergill, Mira Nair and Siddharth Roy Kapur selected 10 of the most promising talent from the film, games and television industries in India.

BAFTA invited candidates from across the country to apply for its flagship talent initiative ‘BAFTA Breakthrough India’. Due to an overwhelming number of quality applications from the film, games and television industries nationwide, the initiative selected ten emerging Indian talents, double the number previously announced.

The incredibly talented list of BAFTA Breakthrough participants for 2020/21, comprising  the future stars of the film, games and television industries, is as below:

•         Akshay Singh, Writer/Producer (Mehsampur, The Gold-Laden Sheep and The Sacred Mountain)
•         Arun Karthick, Director/Writer (Nasir, Sivapuranam/The Strange Case of Shiva)
•         Jay Pinak Oza, Cinematographer (Gully Boy)
•         Karthikeya Murthy, Composer (KD (A) Karuppudurai)
•         Palomi Ghosh, Actor (Typewriter, Nachom-ia Kumpasar)
•         Renu Savant, Director/Writer (The Ebb Tide)
•         Shruti Ghosh, Game Developer & Art Director (Raji- An Ancient Epic)
•         Sumit Purohit, Director/Writer (Scam 1992 - Writer/Editor)
•         Tanya Maniktala, Actor (A Suitable Boy)
•         Vikram Singh, Director (Elephants In My Backyard)

The 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. They 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 has also announced a delay in opening applications for the next Breakthrough India cohort, originally due to open alongside the UK and USA applications on 10 June. This decision has been made to allow future Breakthrough talent the space and time needed during such a difficult time in India. BAFTA will continue to offer support to the current Breakthrough India cohort as their careers face unique challenges.

A R Rahman, BAFTA Breakthrough India Ambassador and Jury Chair, said, “The quality of outstanding applications from across the film, games, and television industries was overwhelming, compelling the jury to select ten deserving Indian talents as part of the Breakthrough initiative this year, rather than five as originally planned. This itself serves as a huge testament to the level of creative talent India has to offer. As our country faces unprecedented times, we are hopeful to launch yet another cohort very soon, as we do believe that this program offers an opportunity of a lifetime for Indian talent and I look forward to seeing the new opportunities Breakthrough can bring for them in the years to come.”

Applications for BAFTA Breakthrough in the UK And USA open today. Since its launch in 2013, BAFTA Breakthrough has championed over 160 talented newcomers, including performers Bukky Bakray, Paapa Essiedu, Letitia Wright, Florence Pugh, Josh O’Connor, Abubakar Salim and Lauren Ridloff, games creatives Chella Ramanan, Segun Akinola, Gemma Langford, and directors Nicole Newnham, Jim LeBrecht, Rose Glass, Stella Corradi and Destiny Ekaragha, amongst many others. Previous Breakthrough alumni have gone on to flourish within their respective disciplines, many becoming BAFTA winners and nominees.