The 31st British Academy Cymru Awards are open for entries

The Awards will take place in October 2022 with nominations announced on 6 September 2022. 

BAFTA in Wales has published the rules, eligibility and timeline for the BAFTA Cymru Awards in 2022. From 1 March, entries will open with changes to the eligibility criteria for The Breakthrough Cymru Award, which is open to Welsh individuals only; the addition of a new category ‘News, Current Affairs & Topical’ and a change to the former ‘Editing’ category, which will be split into ‘Fiction’ and ‘Factual’.

Angharad Mair, BAFTA Cymru chair and executive director of Tinopolis, said: “As the creative industries in Wales continue to thrive, we have made changes to our rules and eligibility criteria in response to its growth as well as factoring in the feedback we have received from our members and industry colleagues. The BAFTA Cymru Awards celebrate the best of film and television made in Wales and by Welsh individuals and this year, BAFTA Cymru is keen to recognise and embrace all that our country has to offer.”

Breakthrough Cymru Award

The Breakthrough Cymru Award, previously The Breakthrough Award, will now only be open to Welsh individuals. The change was implemented to recognise Welsh talent and solely showcase their work. The Cymru Management Committee wanted to ensure a clear distinction from other BAFTA Breakthrough awards and categories available.

Individuals are considered Welsh under one of the following criteria:

• A Welsh place of birth
• Residency (currently residing and resident for a minimum of five years when entry was made)
• Identify as Welsh having spent a considerable amount of time here, can include formative years. (Entrants will be asked for further information at point of entry)

News, Current Affairs & Topical

For a single programme, or programme from a strand or series that are primarily concerned with current affairs or topical subject matters. Programmes will demonstrate a commitment to journalism of the highest order and will aim to provide revelation, fresh insight and analysis. The updated title includes current affairs criteria as well as topical into the title. This change was implemented to increase the number of factual programmes being entered and to continue the growth of the category.

Editing

The Editing category is being split into ‘Fiction’ and ‘Factual’. This change was implemented following feedback from the industry, rise in factual programming being made in Wales and a continued increase in entry numbers.