The exec producer behind BBC comedy-drama We Might Regret This has said his ambition was for a show starring and written by a disabled performer to be “at the very top table of creativity.”
The Office and People Just Do Nothing producer Ash Atalla, whose Roughcut TV outfit is making We Might Regret This in association with Village Roadshow Television, said there has been a tendency for British broadcasters to “use the dry slopes of smaller budget shows or ancillary channels as training progams” when it comes to projects led by disabled people.
Penned by Kyla Harris and Lee Getty, We Might Regret This, on the other hand, is being positioned as a bigger-budget primetime offering for the UK’s national broadcaster, which its backers feel could be a potential awards winner.
“There was always an ambition to make a show that stars a disabled performer sat at the very top table of creativity,...
The Office and People Just Do Nothing producer Ash Atalla, whose Roughcut TV outfit is making We Might Regret This in association with Village Roadshow Television, said there has been a tendency for British broadcasters to “use the dry slopes of smaller budget shows or ancillary channels as training progams” when it comes to projects led by disabled people.
Penned by Kyla Harris and Lee Getty, We Might Regret This, on the other hand, is being positioned as a bigger-budget primetime offering for the UK’s national broadcaster, which its backers feel could be a potential awards winner.
“There was always an ambition to make a show that stars a disabled performer sat at the very top table of creativity,...
- 11/29/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix boss Ted Sarandos dropped into BAFTA’s London headquarters on Friday to meet participants in the organization’s BAFTA Breakthrough program.
Netflix supports the BAFTA Breakthrough program, which sets out to find and develop creative talent across the film, television and games industries via networking opportunities and bespoke support. The program is now in its ninth year and in 2020 expanded to the U.S. and India.
Sarandos, who is co-ceo and chief content officer at the streaming giant, met with both current and former participants in the program. He also took part in a chat with BAFTA chair Krishnendu Majumdar (pictured above) and Breakthrough alumni Tim Renkow, Abigail Dankwa and Aisha Bywaters.
“It’s always been really important to us at Netflix to support the next generation of upcoming talent, so it’s great to be part of the BAFTA Breakthrough initiative,” Sarandos said. “Supporting hundreds of talented creatives,...
Netflix supports the BAFTA Breakthrough program, which sets out to find and develop creative talent across the film, television and games industries via networking opportunities and bespoke support. The program is now in its ninth year and in 2020 expanded to the U.S. and India.
Sarandos, who is co-ceo and chief content officer at the streaming giant, met with both current and former participants in the program. He also took part in a chat with BAFTA chair Krishnendu Majumdar (pictured above) and Breakthrough alumni Tim Renkow, Abigail Dankwa and Aisha Bywaters.
“It’s always been really important to us at Netflix to support the next generation of upcoming talent, so it’s great to be part of the BAFTA Breakthrough initiative,” Sarandos said. “Supporting hundreds of talented creatives,...
- 7/8/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: The BBC has committed big to comedy by adding £10M (12M) to the genre’s budget over the next two years, as Director Jon Petrie talks up U.S. co-pros and unveils a new season of Jack Whitehall’s Bad Education, a Detectorists feature and recommissions of The Cleaner, Jerk and Guilt.
The extra cash is intended for “high-impact material that represents the whole of the UK” and will help with “rising costs,” according to Petrie, who described it as a “sizeable increase.”
“I feel very lucky that we have it,” he added, as he chatted to Deadline before heading up to Newcastle for the BBC’s inaugural Comedy Festival, an event that has been keeping him busy since he replaced Shane Allen around six months ago. The likes of Romesh Ranganathan and Charlie Brooker are taking part in the Festival.
The money comes as the BBC prepares to...
The extra cash is intended for “high-impact material that represents the whole of the UK” and will help with “rising costs,” according to Petrie, who described it as a “sizeable increase.”
“I feel very lucky that we have it,” he added, as he chatted to Deadline before heading up to Newcastle for the BBC’s inaugural Comedy Festival, an event that has been keeping him busy since he replaced Shane Allen around six months ago. The likes of Romesh Ranganathan and Charlie Brooker are taking part in the Festival.
The money comes as the BBC prepares to...
- 5/11/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
British television stars are preparing for the biggest night on the calendar, with one title a firm favourite going into this evening’s BAFTA TV Awards.
Channel 4’s drama It’s a Sin, a drama about a group of young people facing the Aids crisis of the 1980s, is the firm frontrunner with 11 nominations including five acting nods.
See the full list of BAFTA TV Awards nominations below
The mini-series, created by former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies, became Channel 4’s most successful ever drama when it was broadcast last year. Davies is also recognised in the Best Writer category this evening.
The international category is strong, with two global hits Succession (HBO) and Squid Game (Netflix) up against Call My Agent! and Lupin (both Netflix), Mare of Easttown (HBO) and The Underground Railroad (Amazon).
Other nominees include Kate Winslet (Mare of Easttown) and Matthew Macfadyen (Succession), while Boiling...
Channel 4’s drama It’s a Sin, a drama about a group of young people facing the Aids crisis of the 1980s, is the firm frontrunner with 11 nominations including five acting nods.
See the full list of BAFTA TV Awards nominations below
The mini-series, created by former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies, became Channel 4’s most successful ever drama when it was broadcast last year. Davies is also recognised in the Best Writer category this evening.
The international category is strong, with two global hits Succession (HBO) and Squid Game (Netflix) up against Call My Agent! and Lupin (both Netflix), Mare of Easttown (HBO) and The Underground Railroad (Amazon).
Other nominees include Kate Winslet (Mare of Easttown) and Matthew Macfadyen (Succession), while Boiling...
- 5/8/2022
- by Caroline Frost
- Deadline Film + TV
Festival
Funny guys Charlie Brooker and Romesh Ranganathan are set to appear at the BBC’s first-ever comedy festival this May. The festival will take place from May 11–13 in Newcastle upon Tyne, which has been designated the first BBC City of Comedy, with a variety of panels, screenings, stand-up and talent talks as well as the premiere of “The Outlaws” season 2.
Joining Brooker and Ranganathan are Greg Davies, Jamie Demetriou, Megan Ganz, Gbemisola Ikumelo Stephen Merchant, Tim Renkow, Kat Sadler, Adjani Salmon, and Holly Walsh as well as the casts of “Ghosts” and “The Outlaws.” The festival is also open to anyone looking to advance their career or break into TV and comedy, with BBC and U.S. execs in attendance to look out for upcoming talent.
Adaptation
Malaysian content and entertainment company Astro has acquired the rights to adapt BAFTA nominated “Liar,” a thriller series created by BAFTA and...
Funny guys Charlie Brooker and Romesh Ranganathan are set to appear at the BBC’s first-ever comedy festival this May. The festival will take place from May 11–13 in Newcastle upon Tyne, which has been designated the first BBC City of Comedy, with a variety of panels, screenings, stand-up and talent talks as well as the premiere of “The Outlaws” season 2.
Joining Brooker and Ranganathan are Greg Davies, Jamie Demetriou, Megan Ganz, Gbemisola Ikumelo Stephen Merchant, Tim Renkow, Kat Sadler, Adjani Salmon, and Holly Walsh as well as the casts of “Ghosts” and “The Outlaws.” The festival is also open to anyone looking to advance their career or break into TV and comedy, with BBC and U.S. execs in attendance to look out for upcoming talent.
Adaptation
Malaysian content and entertainment company Astro has acquired the rights to adapt BAFTA nominated “Liar,” a thriller series created by BAFTA and...
- 4/12/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
More than two-thirds (67%) of this year’s BAFTA TV performance nominees are nominated for the first time, according to the award’s organizers, who hailed the organization’s impact on new voices.
The figure increased rapidly from 55% in 2021 and BAFTA Deputy Chair Sara Putt put this down to the drive for new, diverse talent along with BAFTA’s many programs that are bringing this new talent through.
Diverse performers such as It’s a Sin’s Omari Douglas and Lydia West along with Help’s Cathy Tyson have been recognized for the first time this year, along with creators like Jerk’s Tim Renkow, some of whom are BAFTA program graduates.
They will get the opportunity to go up against huge stars like Mare of Easttown’s Kate Winslet, with this year being the first in which performers in international shows are eligible for the Actor and Actress awards.
“This speaks...
The figure increased rapidly from 55% in 2021 and BAFTA Deputy Chair Sara Putt put this down to the drive for new, diverse talent along with BAFTA’s many programs that are bringing this new talent through.
Diverse performers such as It’s a Sin’s Omari Douglas and Lydia West along with Help’s Cathy Tyson have been recognized for the first time this year, along with creators like Jerk’s Tim Renkow, some of whom are BAFTA program graduates.
They will get the opportunity to go up against huge stars like Mare of Easttown’s Kate Winslet, with this year being the first in which performers in international shows are eligible for the Actor and Actress awards.
“This speaks...
- 3/30/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
BAFTA has unveiled its 2021 BAFTA Breakthrough cohort, including “It’s a Sin” star Lydia West and “Censor” director Prano Bailey-Bond.
Supported by Netflix, the annual talent initiative, which originally launched in 2013 as “Breakthrough Brits,” was renamed BAFTA Breakthrough in May 2020 and expanded to include the U.S. and India. Previous participants have included Paapa Essiedu, Letitia Wright, Florence Pugh and Josh O’Connor, among others.
This year’s cohort, drawn from the worlds of film, television and games, were hand-picked by a global jury made up of industry leaders including Niamh Algar (“Raise by Wolves”), Tim Renkow (“Jerk”) and ITV’s director of diversity and inclusion, Ade Rawcliffe, who chaired the jury.
24 participants hail from the U.K. and 12 from the U.S. As part of the BAFTA Breakthrough program they will receive access to one-to-one industry meetings, group roundtable sessions, networking opportunities within BAFTA’s membership, peer-to-peer support, global coaching, PR...
Supported by Netflix, the annual talent initiative, which originally launched in 2013 as “Breakthrough Brits,” was renamed BAFTA Breakthrough in May 2020 and expanded to include the U.S. and India. Previous participants have included Paapa Essiedu, Letitia Wright, Florence Pugh and Josh O’Connor, among others.
This year’s cohort, drawn from the worlds of film, television and games, were hand-picked by a global jury made up of industry leaders including Niamh Algar (“Raise by Wolves”), Tim Renkow (“Jerk”) and ITV’s director of diversity and inclusion, Ade Rawcliffe, who chaired the jury.
24 participants hail from the U.K. and 12 from the U.S. As part of the BAFTA Breakthrough program they will receive access to one-to-one industry meetings, group roundtable sessions, networking opportunities within BAFTA’s membership, peer-to-peer support, global coaching, PR...
- 12/8/2021
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Leading actors from It’s a Sin, Sex Education and Ben Wheatley horror In the Earth have been named on BAFTA’s latest Breakthrough cohort, supported by Netflix.
A jury comprised of the likes of Jerk creator Tim Renkow and Virtues star Niamh Algar unveiled the 36 young hopefuls from the UK and U.S. this afternoon, including It’s a Sin’s Lydia West, who played Jill Baxter in Russell T Davies’ Channel 4 miniseries; Sex Education’s George Robinson, who plays Isaac in the Netflix series,;and In the Earth’s Ellora Torchia.
The list mainly features off-screen talent and is majority British, including Censor director Prano Bailey-Bond and We Are Lady Parts casting director Aisha Bywaters. Netflix’s Ginny & Georgia writer Sarah Lampert is one of the U.S. winners for the initiative, which is supported by the SVoD.
Winners will receive one-to-one industry meetings and group roundtable sessions, access...
A jury comprised of the likes of Jerk creator Tim Renkow and Virtues star Niamh Algar unveiled the 36 young hopefuls from the UK and U.S. this afternoon, including It’s a Sin’s Lydia West, who played Jill Baxter in Russell T Davies’ Channel 4 miniseries; Sex Education’s George Robinson, who plays Isaac in the Netflix series,;and In the Earth’s Ellora Torchia.
The list mainly features off-screen talent and is majority British, including Censor director Prano Bailey-Bond and We Are Lady Parts casting director Aisha Bywaters. Netflix’s Ginny & Georgia writer Sarah Lampert is one of the U.S. winners for the initiative, which is supported by the SVoD.
Winners will receive one-to-one industry meetings and group roundtable sessions, access...
- 12/8/2021
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Elizabeth Hurley To Star In Caribbean Rom-Com
Elizabeth Hurley is to play the lead in The Caribbean Christmas, the rom-com shot in St Kitts and Nevis from Msr Media producer Philippe Martinez. Pic started filming this week. Cast on the film, which is the latest to be shot this year in the Caribbean island under its multi-film deal with Msr, includes Bridgerton’s Caroline Quentin, Nathalie Cox (Kingdom Of Heaven), Edoardo Costa (Live Free or Die Hard) and Incitement’s Hadar Cats. The film follows the story of an abandoned British bride, who spends December in the Caribbean with her bridesmaids as love blossoms. Hurley described the offer to film in the Caribbean after a difficult 18 months as “irresistible.” Martinez will direct and write alongside Cox.
Bafta Talent Unveils US-uk Jury
Handmaids’ Tale creator Bruce Miller, documentary maker Afua Hirsch and Netflix UK Features Director Fiona Lamptey are to feature in the U.
Elizabeth Hurley is to play the lead in The Caribbean Christmas, the rom-com shot in St Kitts and Nevis from Msr Media producer Philippe Martinez. Pic started filming this week. Cast on the film, which is the latest to be shot this year in the Caribbean island under its multi-film deal with Msr, includes Bridgerton’s Caroline Quentin, Nathalie Cox (Kingdom Of Heaven), Edoardo Costa (Live Free or Die Hard) and Incitement’s Hadar Cats. The film follows the story of an abandoned British bride, who spends December in the Caribbean with her bridesmaids as love blossoms. Hurley described the offer to film in the Caribbean after a difficult 18 months as “irresistible.” Martinez will direct and write alongside Cox.
Bafta Talent Unveils US-uk Jury
Handmaids’ Tale creator Bruce Miller, documentary maker Afua Hirsch and Netflix UK Features Director Fiona Lamptey are to feature in the U.
- 10/26/2021
- by Anuj Radia
- Deadline Film + TV
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has revealed high powered U.K. and U.S. jury members for the 2021 BAFTA Breakthrough initiative, supported by Netflix.
The U.K. jury is chaired by Ade Rawcliffe, group director of diversity and inclusion at ITV, and members include Fiona Lamptey, director of U.K. features at Netflix; journalist and cultural commentator Afua Hirsch; Alisa Pomeroy, senior commissioning editor, factual at Channel 4; Sheffield Doc/Fest interim director Clare Stewart; David P. Davis, executive producer at Bad Wolf; and Jodie Azhar, CEO and games director at Teazelcat Games.
The U.K. jury also includes producer Julia Godzinskaya, Nest Entertainment; “Saint Maud” casting director Kharmel Cochrane; “The Informer” costume designer Molly Emma Rowe; “It’s a Sin” director Peter Hoar; Siobhan Reddy, studio director at Media Molecule; writer/performer Tim Renkow; and “Ted Lasso” DoP Vanessa Whyte.
The U.S. jurors include “Jurassic World: Dominion...
The U.K. jury is chaired by Ade Rawcliffe, group director of diversity and inclusion at ITV, and members include Fiona Lamptey, director of U.K. features at Netflix; journalist and cultural commentator Afua Hirsch; Alisa Pomeroy, senior commissioning editor, factual at Channel 4; Sheffield Doc/Fest interim director Clare Stewart; David P. Davis, executive producer at Bad Wolf; and Jodie Azhar, CEO and games director at Teazelcat Games.
The U.K. jury also includes producer Julia Godzinskaya, Nest Entertainment; “Saint Maud” casting director Kharmel Cochrane; “The Informer” costume designer Molly Emma Rowe; “It’s a Sin” director Peter Hoar; Siobhan Reddy, studio director at Media Molecule; writer/performer Tim Renkow; and “Ted Lasso” DoP Vanessa Whyte.
The U.S. jurors include “Jurassic World: Dominion...
- 10/26/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Five of the selection have previously been named Screen Stars of Tomorrow.
UK producer Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor and actor Tamara Lawrance are among 34 emerging talents from the film, TV and games industry selected for the 2020 edition of Bafta Breakthrough, the British Academy’s new talent initiative.
The initiative, which has been running since 2013, expands to the US for the first time, with 23 of the selected participants hailing from the UK and 11 from the US.
Blue Story producer Gharoro-Akpojotor and Small Axe actor Lawrance are two of five participants who were previously named Screen UK and Ireland Stars of Tomorrow, in 2020 and 2018 respectively.
UK producer Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor and actor Tamara Lawrance are among 34 emerging talents from the film, TV and games industry selected for the 2020 edition of Bafta Breakthrough, the British Academy’s new talent initiative.
The initiative, which has been running since 2013, expands to the US for the first time, with 23 of the selected participants hailing from the UK and 11 from the US.
Blue Story producer Gharoro-Akpojotor and Small Axe actor Lawrance are two of five participants who were previously named Screen UK and Ireland Stars of Tomorrow, in 2020 and 2018 respectively.
- 11/16/2020
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
BAFTA has named its BAFTA Breakthrough participants for 2020, with the 34-strong list consisting of rising talent in film, games and television from both the USA and UK.
Selected are the UK directors behind After Love, Limbo, and White Riot, and the producers behind Bait and Blue Story. From the U.S., participants include Eternals actress Lauren Ridloff and the co-director of Netflix doc Crip Camp. The full list is below.
As previously reported, the org’s Breakthrough showcase was expanded earlier this year to take talent from the U.S., India and China. Applications for India open at the end of this month and China will open in 2021.
The selected talent will receive mentorship and career guidance, plus access to BAFTA networking opportunities. They will be showcased together in 2021.
The selection jury this year included Paapa Essiedu, Fiona Shaw, Edward Enninful and Amma Asante.
“We are thrilled to be announcing...
Selected are the UK directors behind After Love, Limbo, and White Riot, and the producers behind Bait and Blue Story. From the U.S., participants include Eternals actress Lauren Ridloff and the co-director of Netflix doc Crip Camp. The full list is below.
As previously reported, the org’s Breakthrough showcase was expanded earlier this year to take talent from the U.S., India and China. Applications for India open at the end of this month and China will open in 2021.
The selected talent will receive mentorship and career guidance, plus access to BAFTA networking opportunities. They will be showcased together in 2021.
The selection jury this year included Paapa Essiedu, Fiona Shaw, Edward Enninful and Amma Asante.
“We are thrilled to be announcing...
- 11/16/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Bukky Bakray, star of Brussels, Dublin and San Sebastian-winning film “Rocks,” Aleem Khan, director of Cannes Critics’ Week Label title “After Love,” and Kate Byers and Linn Waite, producers of British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) debut award-winner “Bait,” are among 34 participants of the 2020 BAFTA Breakthrough initiative.
Supported by Netflix, the new talent initiative supports emerging talent across film, games and television. In this round, 23 participants have been announced from the U.K. and 11 from the U.S., with applications opening this month in India and in 2021 in China.
The talent was selected through cross-industry global juries comprising leading industry professionals, including actors Paapa Essiedu (“I May Destroy You”) and Fiona Shaw (“Killing Eve”), filmmaker Amma Asante (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) and Edward Enninful, editor-in-chief of British Vogue.
The participants will receive one-to-one mentoring and career guidance, full voting membership of BAFTA, and access to BAFTA events and networking opportunities,...
Supported by Netflix, the new talent initiative supports emerging talent across film, games and television. In this round, 23 participants have been announced from the U.K. and 11 from the U.S., with applications opening this month in India and in 2021 in China.
The talent was selected through cross-industry global juries comprising leading industry professionals, including actors Paapa Essiedu (“I May Destroy You”) and Fiona Shaw (“Killing Eve”), filmmaker Amma Asante (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) and Edward Enninful, editor-in-chief of British Vogue.
The participants will receive one-to-one mentoring and career guidance, full voting membership of BAFTA, and access to BAFTA events and networking opportunities,...
- 11/16/2020
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
New members include filmmakers Lynne Ramsay, Haifaa al-Mansour, Fox Searchlight’s Kate Gardiner and Screen Scotland’s Isabel Davis.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) has revealed its 2019 intake of new members drawn from the film, TV and games industry.
Among the record 558 new members are filmmakers and writers Haifaa al-Mansour (Wadjda), Laszlo Nemes (Son Of Saul), Lynne Ramsay (You Were Never Really Here), Lee Unkrich (Coco) and former Screen Star of Tomorrow Rose Glass (Saint Maud).
New executives on the list include Kate Gardiner (head of Fox Searchlight UK); Jason Maza (Unstoppable), Emma Hewitt (BBC Films...
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) has revealed its 2019 intake of new members drawn from the film, TV and games industry.
Among the record 558 new members are filmmakers and writers Haifaa al-Mansour (Wadjda), Laszlo Nemes (Son Of Saul), Lynne Ramsay (You Were Never Really Here), Lee Unkrich (Coco) and former Screen Star of Tomorrow Rose Glass (Saint Maud).
New executives on the list include Kate Gardiner (head of Fox Searchlight UK); Jason Maza (Unstoppable), Emma Hewitt (BBC Films...
- 12/4/2019
- by 1101184¦Orlando Parfitt¦38¦
- ScreenDaily
Credits from those selected include ‘Bodyguard’, ‘The Personal History Of David Copperfield’.
Bafta has named 21 actors for the latest edition of its Elevate scheme, aimed at supporting those from under-represented groups in progressing to the next stage of their career.
Those selected include Anjli Mohindra, whose breakthrough role was as would-be terrorist Nadia in the BBC’s Bodyguard last year.
Also chosen is Anthony Welsh, whose film credits include Starred Up, Journeyman, and The Personal History Of David Copperfield, with TV roles in Fleabag and Pure.
Micky McGregor is also among those selected and has credits including Ken Loach’s I,...
Bafta has named 21 actors for the latest edition of its Elevate scheme, aimed at supporting those from under-represented groups in progressing to the next stage of their career.
Those selected include Anjli Mohindra, whose breakthrough role was as would-be terrorist Nadia in the BBC’s Bodyguard last year.
Also chosen is Anthony Welsh, whose film credits include Starred Up, Journeyman, and The Personal History Of David Copperfield, with TV roles in Fleabag and Pure.
Micky McGregor is also among those selected and has credits including Ken Loach’s I,...
- 10/8/2019
- by 1101321¦Ben Dalton¦26¦
- ScreenDaily
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