Launched in 2013 and now backed by Netflix, the BAFTA Breakthrough program aims to support “emerging talent across film, TV, and video games” by offering individuals “tailored mentoring and development opportunities aimed at supporting them during this breakout stage of their careers.” Each year, a group of people are chosen by a cross-industry global jury to be named breakthroughs and given this offer – and for us here at Arrow in the Head, it was cool to see that a few of this year’s breakthroughs were chosen due to their work on genre films. They are Censor director Prano Bailey-Bond, Censor producer Helen Jones, In the Earth cast member Ellora Torchia, Host and Dashcam co-writer Gemma Hurley, and The Origin casting director Heather Basten.
Written by Bailey-Bond and Anthony Fletcher, Censor has the following synopsis:
After viewing a strangely familiar video nasty, Enid, a film censor, sets out to solve the past mystery of her sister’s disappearance, embarking on a quest that dissolves the line between fiction and reality.
Censor stars Niamh Algar, who was a former BAFTA Breakthrough and was on this year’s jury.
Written and directed by Ben Wheatley, In the Earth tells the following story:
As the world searches for a cure to a disastrous virus, a scientist and park scout venture deep in the forest for a routine equipment run.
Host and Dashcam were both directed by Rob Savage. Here are the stories Hurley helped craft:
HOST: Six friends hire a medium to hold a seance via Zoom during lockdown, but they get far more than they bargained for as things quickly go wrong.
DASHCAM: Two friends on a horror-fueled road trip and livestream the most terrifying night of their lives.
There isn’t much information available on The Origin at this time, but it’s a horror movie that’s set in the Stone Age, was directed by Andrew Cumming, and stars Chuku Modu (The Good Doctor), Kit Young (Shadow and Bone), and Iola Evans (The 100).
From The Hollywood Reporter, here’s this year’s list of BAFTA Breakthroughs:
The full list of 2021 BAFTA Breakthrough participants from the U.S includes:
Anna Franqueso-Solano, cinematographer – The Farewell
Bao Nguyen, director, documentary – Be Water
Cheyenne Ford, production designer – Shiva Baby
Dominique Nieves – writer/director – Our Lady Lupe
Joshua Grier, Mike Grier, Hunter Schmidt, games – Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Hikari, writer/director – 37 Seconds
Orlando Perez Rosso, composer – Allen V. Farrow
Sarah Lampert, writer – Ginny & Georgia
Siqi Song, animator – All In A Day’s Work
Stephanie Economou, composer – Jupiter’s Legacy
The 2021 BAFTA Breakthrough participants from the U.K. includes:
Aaron Reid, cinematographer – Stephen
Aisha Bywaters, casting director – We Are Lady Parts
Alex Kanaris-Sotiriou, creative director/lead developer – Röki
Ana Naomi De Sousa, director – Naseem, Fight with Grace
Ashley Francis-Roy, director – Damilola: The Boy Next Door
Chad Orororo, sound editor/mixer – Pele
David Proud, director/writer – Coronation Street
Elle Osili-Wood, presenter – Special Characters
Ellora Torchia, performer – In the Earth
Gemma Hurley, writer – Host
George Robinson, performer – Sex Education
Georgi Banks-Davies, director – I Hate Suzie
Heather Basten, casting director – The Origin
Helen Jones, producer – Censor
Joanna Haslam, design director – Family Feud
Jo Jackson, sound editor/mixer – Radioactive
Kirsty Elizabeth Gillmore, production voice director – Destruction AllStars
Laure De Mey, programmer – Assemble With Care DLC
Lydia West, performer – It’s A Sin
Lyttanya Shannon, director/producer- Subnormal: A British Scandal
Mdhamiri A Nkemi, editor – Life in a Day
PC Williams, costume designer – We Are Lady Parts
Prano Bailey-Bond, director/writer – Censor
Rajita Shah, producer – Love Sarah