Seven leading industry figures join BAFTA’s film, games and television committees

BAFTA welcomes seven leading industry figures to its Film, Games and Television committees, who have been elected by BAFTA’s global membership: Alison Barnett, Iain Canning, Charu Desodt, Alyx Jones, Caroline Levy, Ray Panthaki, and Barnaby Thompson. 

Everyone who participates in BAFTA’s sector committees volunteers their time, supporting BAFTA to deliver its strategic charitable mission through invaluable industry insight and expertise as well as playing a central role in the oversight and steering of BAFTA’s high-profile awards.  

The seven newly elected sector committee members are joined by several re-elected members Emma Butt, Des Gayle (also deputy chair of the Games committee), Jason Solomons, Tara Saunders (Games committee chair), and Ade Rawcliffe (also Learning, Inclusion and Talent committee chair). 

The representatives are elected for two years, voted for by the members. The elections take place every year, with half of the committee retiring each year on rotation. 

The eligibility, campaigning rules and voting criteria for the Film, Games, Television and Television Craft Awards are individually reviewed and set by the sector committees annually. BAFTA’s guiding principles for its awards are to celebrate creative excellence, level the playing field, provide a fair and robust process, and encourage positive industry change.  

Film Committee (ten elected spaces): 

• Iain Canning (newly elected) 

• Barnaby Thompson (newly elected) 

• Ray Panthaki (newly elected) 

• Jason Solomons (re-elected) 

They join chair Anna Higgs and deputy chair Emily Stillman, as well as Anthony Andrews, Julie La’Bassiere, David Proud, and Nainita Desai. 

Games Committee (seven elected spaces): 

• Charu Desodt (newly elected) 

• Alyx Jones (newly elected) 

• Tara Saunders, chair (re-elected) 

• Des Gayle, deputy chair (re-elected) 

 They join Katherine Bidwell, James Brooksby and Del Walker.  

TV Committee (ten elected spaces): 

• Ade Rawcliffe, also Learning, Inclusion and Talent committee chair (re-elected) 

• Emma Butt (re-elected) 

• Caroline Levy (newly elected) 

• Alison Barnett (newly elected) 

They join chair Hilary Rosen and deputy chair Christine Healy, as well as Adeel Amini, Furquan Akhtar, Rajiv Nathwani and Sue Vertue.  

Sara Putt, chair of BAFTA, said: “We are uniquely fortunate to have a community of over 12,000 creative practitioners. A community which ranges from casting directors to editors, games developers to commissioners, agents to CEOs and represents the huge array of talent within the screen industries. We’re delighted to welcome back a host of returning committee members and a range of new expert voices, including BAFTA winners and alumni of our talent programmes.  All of them have been elected from within our membership, by our membership. Their guidance will be invaluable over the coming years in helping to shape our work as a world-leading awards body, a charity and a key voice for the screen industries. We thank them for volunteering their time so generously in support of our charitable mission to champion and evolve the screen arts and open doors for the next generation.”