BAFTA has announced that applications are now open for BAFTA Breakthrough UK, supported by Netflix.
Now in its 13th year, BAFTA Breakthrough UK is the arts charity’s flagship talent programme, dedicated to “spotlighting and supporting outstanding emerging talent in film, games and television”.
The initiative plays a “central role” in BAFTA’s year-round work to “nurture and develop creative talent, offering unique access to career development opportunities and building connections across the industry”.
“BAFTA is committed to removing barriers to entry and progression in the screen industries through a wide range of learning events and programmes like Breakthrough,” it said.
2026 marks the seventh year of Netflix’s partnership of the programme, “reflective of BAFTA and Netflix’s common goal: to celebrate emerging talent and invest in the next generation of screen creatives in the UK”.
Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA, said: “Breakthrough UK is an integral part of BAFTA’s mission to champion creative talent across the screen industries.
“This programme goes beyond recognising talent at a ‘breakthrough’ moment, it is about providing the foundational support and professional nurturing that sustains a whole career.
“We are delighted to continue this important work with Netflix, whose support and shared commitment to investing in the next generation of talent help make Breakthrough UK possible.”
Anne Mensah, vice president of UK content, Netflix, added: “BAFTA Breakthrough continues to champion the UK’s most exciting emerging voices, and as part of our wider Generation N work we’re proud to support the initiative for a seventh year, continuing to open doors for new creatives across the industry.”
As an “incubator for the industry’s future change-makers”, BAFTA Breakthrough nurtures and encourages peer-to-peer network building.
Tapping into BAFTA’s global academy of over 14,000 creatives, the initiative has facilitated over 1,500 meetings with established industry practitioners, such as Amma Asante, Ava Duvernay, Cillian Murphy, Craig Mazin, Danny Boyle, Emma Thompson, Jack Thorne, Lena Dunham, Nia DaCosta, Peter Morgan, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Riz Ahmed and Russell T Davies, among many others.
The deadline for entries is 12pm on Friday 19 June 2026
More information is available on the BAFTA website.
