BAFTA Breakthrough U.K.: A New Generation of Creatives Unveiled

The BAFTA Breakthrough 2026 U.K. creatives, supported by Netflix, have been unveiled, showcasing rising talent across film, TV and games on the 21-strong annual list. The BAFTA Breakthrough program is designed to accelerate extraordinary people working in games, TV and film who are on the cusp or in the midst of a breakthrough moment or year. It is now in its 13th year.

Among the names in the BAFTA Breakthrough U.K. cohort are The Other Bennet Sister star Ella Bruccoleri, Falling star Sophie Stone and Prisoner star Izuka Hoyle. This year’s U.K. cohort spans craft specialisms across casting, production, directing, performing and writing, and have worked on some of the most acclaimed projects of the last year, according to BAFTA.

BAFTA North America will unveil the Breakthrough U.S. talent later this month. The BAFTA Breakthrough program offers a springboard into the next phase of their careers with year-round support, one-to-one meetings, career guidance and access to industry networking events as well as full BAFTA membership.

Globally, over 330 people have passed through the program, ranging from screenwriters and actors to game designers, art directors, editors, and costume designers. Many go on to develop their own features, games, or TV shows and achieve national and international acclaim, including more than 200 BAFTA nominations and over 80 wins.

Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA, said: “BAFTA Breakthrough is a hugely impactful program. It champions talented creatives and practitioners from all three screen sectors, and it is designed to give them the support and connections to build lasting careers.”

Anne Mensah, vp, U.K. content at Netflix, said: “We are so proud to back BAFTA Breakthrough for a seventh year. It forms an important part of Generation N, our commitment to supporting new, emerging and mid-career talent in the U.K. The group announced today is an incredibly exciting range of names, and it is an honour to help them flourish with the guidance and support this programme provides.”

Check out the full list of this year’s BAFTA Breakthrough U.K. cohort below.

FILM: Hollie Bryan, Producer. The Ceremony; Louis Paxton, Writer/Director. The Incomer; Lucy Allen*, Casting Director, Sunny Dancer; Imran Perretta, Co-Writer/Director, Ish; Regina Meessen, Hair and Make-Up Designer, Dreamers; Ted Evans, Writer/Director, Retreat; Tom Payne*, Casting Director, Sunny Dancer

DOCUMENTARY/UNSCRIPTED: Chris Lynch, Presenter and Producer, In the Driving Seat; Myrid Carten, Writer/Director. A Want in Her; Runako Celina, Producer and Reporter, Death in Dubai

TV: Ella Bruccoleri, Performer. The Other Bennet Sister; Izuka Hoyle, Performer, Prisoner; Philippa Mumford, Production Designer, Juice (season 2); Sophie Stone, Performer, Falling; Tom Cousins, Creator and Executive Producer, Rafi the Wishing Wizard; Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Writer, Emmerdale

GAMES: Eloise Singer, Writer/Director. The Pirate Queen: No Safe Waters; Husban Siddiqi, Game Director and Developer, Rogue Eclipse; Kate Killick, Creative Director, Pieced Together; Niru Fekri-Arnold, Creator/Designer, Cursed Words; Tom McKay, Performer, Mysteria Ecclesiae: Kingdom Come Deliverance DLC