BAFTA Reveals Dates & Rule Changes for TV Awards

Following its annual review of all categories, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has confirmed the official rules and guidelines for the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards and the British Academy Television Craft Awards 2022.

The Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards will take place on May 8, 2022, and the British Academy Television Craft Awards will be held on April 24, 2022. Nominations will be announced on March 30, 2022, with the Virgin Media Must-See Moment nominations to be announced on March 23, 2022.

As for changes to the rules, line producers, production managers and heads of production can formally have their work recognized as part of the named nominees alongside other members of the production team deemed to have had most creative input.

BAFTA Television is now going to pilot albert sustainability requirements for entrants. Now in its tenth year, the BAFTA albert consortium is the screen industry authority on environmental sustainability, working across the industry to eliminate its environmental impact as well as developing on-screen content that is compatible with a sustainable climate. For the 2022 Awards, entrants will be asked whether they have achieved albert certification and completed the albert carbon calculator. This will not affect entrants’ eligibility for the 2022 Awards but will inform plans for the formal inclusion of eligibility criteria in future years.

Following the successful implementation of the BFI Diversity Standards across the Television Awards and Television Craft Awards, entrants must now meet two criteria to be eligible: Standard C, which relates to industry access and opportunities, and one other.

From 2022 onward, U.K. performers (as defined in the updated rules and guidelines) appearing in shows only eligible for the International category will individually be eligible for the performance categories.

The number of nominees in the International category will increase from four to six.

The voting rights of members based in the U.S. and overseas will be extended from four categories to all categories from 2022 onward, reflecting the greater access to content for members based overseas.

Sara Putt, deputy chair of BAFTA and chair of the BAFTA Television Committee, said: “The television industry has continued to innovate and creatively thrive during the challenges of the last year. TV has once again proven its unique value in keeping audiences entertained and informed and its vital role in all of our lives. The progress being made to better represent a broader range of stories and voices on screen and to be properly inclusive and open to talent irrespective of background was evident in the range of outstanding work and individuals recognized in the Virgin Media BAFTA Television Awards and Television Craft Awards earlier this year. Each year we consult with the industry and review our rules and eligibility criteria to ensure our awards not only reflect an evolving global industry but also help drive positive change, and this year I’m proud that we are stepping up our consultation with the industry on environmental sustainability with a view to formally adopting requirements from 2023 that will ensure a more sustainable industry for all.”