BAFTA Breakthrough 2024: Mawaan Rizwan, Nava Mau Among 43 “Must-Watch” Young Creatives

by

As I delve into the lives of these extraordinary individuals, I am simply astounded by the sheer talent and determination that each one possesses. It is truly inspiring to see how they have harnessed their unique skills and passions to make a mark in their respective fields. From game producers to filmmakers, composers to sound designers, each one of them has managed to carve out a niche for themselves amidst the competitive world of art and entertainment.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’m thrilled to be part of the same wave as the outstanding actors Mawaan Rizwan and Nava Mau, who have been recognized in this year’s BAFTA Breakthrough group!

Highlighting 43 rising stars from film, gaming, and television industries in the U.K., U.S., and India, this flagship talent program is backed by Netflix. Its purpose is to give a boost to upcoming talents in various fields such as costume design, production, casting, editing, game design, acting, directing, music composition, and cinematography.

Rizwan garnered fame primarily for his part in the BBC Three comedy “Juice,” earning him a BAFTA award just this past May. Conversely, Mau made her mark with her acting role in the widely acclaimed Netflix series “Baby Reindeer” back in April.

In this listing, Shahnaz Dulaimy, editor of Top Boy, and Kyla Harris from We Might Regret This, are highlighted as breakthrough figures in the U.K., alongside Jih-E Peng, a cinematographer on Girls Will Be Girls, and Juliana Hoffpauir, costume designer for the Glen Powell-led comedy Hit Man, who made the cut for the U.S. list. Meanwhile, Abhinav Chokhavatia, a game producer, and Christo Tomy, a director, have been recognized as breakthrough talents in India.

Notable alumni of the past BAFTA Breakthrough program include Florence Pugh, Josh O’Connor, Ambika Mod, Bella Ramsey, Letitia Wright, Paapa Essiedu, Jessie Buckley, and Tom Holland. For more information on how BAFTA selects its Breakthrough stars and the benefits of this program for emerging talent, check out this article where Ade Rawcliffe, chair of the Learning, Inclusion & Talent Committee at BAFTA, discussed the scheme in detail with The Hollywood Reporter, emphasizing that it bolsters creatives’ confidence.

Rawcliffe, who served as a board member and attended the executive group for Breakthrough U.K. this year, commented on the project: “It boosts visibility… It instills confidence. You’ll be connected with individuals who have previously accomplished it. They’ll assist you with challenges. BAFTA facilitates this connection. As an Academy, [it means] those who have achieved before are passing on their expertise.

The year-long initiative is open to individuals who are approaching or already experiencing a significant career milestone. This program offers one-on-one consultations, career advice, full membership with voting rights at BAFTA, as well as access to networking events. Arrangements have been made for meetings with Cillian Murphy, Paul Rudd, Emma Thompson, Danny Boyle, Paul Greengrass, Barry Jenkins, Martin McDonagh, Abi Morgan, Lesley Manville, and Brad Pitt, along with several other prominent figures in the industry.

As a passionate fan, I’m thrilled to share that this year’s Breakthrough U.K. group was handpicked by five expert sub-committees, filled with influential figures from the industry who have worked with BAFTA and Netflix. In the U.S., a prestigious jury of top-tier influencers, such as producer Kerstin Emhoff and actor John David Washington, were responsible for choosing this year’s talented cohort.

The panel overseeing the Breakthrough India award was led by Guneet Monga Kapoor, a film producer and representative of Breakthrough India, along with Monika Shergill, the vice president of content at Netflix India, and filmmaker Sushmit Ghosh as its members.

This year, BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip remarked on our exceptional team of casting directors, producers, scriptwriters, actors, principal artists, cinematographers, key developers, and many others. She encourages the industry to pay attention. A big thank you goes out to Netflix, whose backing allows for the realization of BAFTA Breakthrough.

Below is the full list of this year’s BAFTA Breakthrough cohort.

U.K. BREAKTHROUGHS (21):

Alice Russell, Director – If the Streets Were on Fire

Beth Park, Lead Performance Director – Black Myth: Wukong

Clair Titley, Director – The Contestant

Cobbie Yates, Costume Designer – Layla

Daf James, Creator/Writer/Executive Producer/Musical Director – Lost Boys & Fairies

Fred Hoffman, Art Director – Paper Trail

Georgina Hurcombe, Creator/Producer/Director – Pop Paper City

Harry Gilbert, Casting Director – G’wed

Jennifer English, Performer – Baldur’s Gate 3

Kyla Harris*, Lead Performer/Co-Creator/Co-Writer/Associate Producer – We Might Regret This

Lauren Sequeira, Creator/Writer/Executive Producer – Domino Day

Lee Getty*, Co-Creator/Co-Writer/Associate Producer – We Might Regret This

Loran Dunn, Producer – Hoard

Luna Carmoon, Writer/Director – Hoard

Luned Tonderai, Series Director – Miriam: Death Of A Reality Star

Mawaan Rizwan, Performer/Writer/Creator/Executive Producer – Juice

Otto Baxter, Writer/Director/Performer – The Puppet Asylum

Poulomi Basu, Creator/Director/Writer/Art Director – MAYA: The Birth of a Superhero

Rochelle Newman, Producer – White Nanny Black Child

Shahnaz Dulaimy, Editor – Top Boy

Sophie Knowles, Lead Artist – Viewfinder

*applied as a team

U.S. BREAKTHROUGHS (13):

Angela Walker Patton**, Director – Daughters

Elaine Gómez, Creative Director – Blink Land

Erica Tremblay, Writer/Director – Fancy Dance

Hanna Park, Editor – Bottoms

Jih-E Peng, Cinematographer – Girls Will Be Girls

Joy Ngiaw, Composer – WondLa

Juliana Hoffpauir, Costume Designer – Hit Man

Karrie Shirou Shao, Game Writer/Lead Designer – Pacific Drive

Nafisa Kaptownwala, Casting Director – Dìdi

Natalie Rae**, Director – Daughters

Nava Mau, Performer – Baby Reindeer

Nicole He, Creative Director – The Crush House

Sean Wang, Writer/Director – Dìdi

**applied as a team

INDIA BREAKTHROUGHS (9):

Abhinav Chokhavatia, Game Producer – Down and Out

Christo Tomy, Director – Curry and Cyanide: The Jolly Joseph Case

Deepa Bhatia, Writer/Director/Producer – First Act

Dhiman Karmakar, Sound Designer/Production Sound Mixer – Amar Singh Chamkila

Jaydeep Sarkar, Showrunner/Series Director/Executive Producer – Rainbow Rishta

Monisha Thyagarajan, Series Producer – The Hunt for Veerappan

Neeraj Kumar, Producer/Lead Developer – Artifice: War Tactics

Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy, Writer/Director/Performer – Aachar & Co.

Varun Grover, Writer/Director – All India Rank

Read More

2024-11-21 19:29