BAFTA Announces Scholarship Awards

London/New York/Los Angeles, 16 September: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) today announced the names of 30 students in financial need who will receive scholarships to study in the UK or US. As well as financial support, the BAFTA Scholars will gain free access to BAFTA events and receive one-to-one mentoring from BAFTA members, award-winners and nominees.

For a third year, three students receive the Prince William Scholarships in Film, Television and Games, supported by BAFTA and Warner Bros. These scholarships – an integral element of Warner Bros. Creative Talent, Warner Bros.’ investment in UK creative industries’ skills and training – are awarded in the name of HRH The Duke of Cambridge in his role as President of BAFTA.

In the UK, 13 new and three returning British students will receive up to £10,000 as part of their package of support. This year, for the first time, BAFTA is awarding scholarships to students on undergraduate Acting courses, as well as a range of students on postgraduate courses.

BAFTA Los Angeles provides financial support and mentorship to British graduate students who are studying in the US.This year's recipients are: Emily Rice, studying at the University of Southern California; Richard Tuft, at California Institute for the Arts; Amelia Hassard, at Columbia University; and Alexander Noël Ivan Polunin, at the University of Southern California. In addition, Sean Dunn, studying at Columbia University, is awarded the first ever Pigott/BAFTA Scholarship; and Michael Clarkson at the University of Southern California receives the Nigel Lythgoe Television Scholarship.

In 2016, BAFTA will offer scholarships to enable talented Chinese and British nationals in financial need to study film, television, or games as an international student in the UK or China respectively. The new scholarships aim to encourage creative collaboration and cultural exchange between British and Asian practitioners.