BAFTA Brings Children’s Awards into Main Event

Starting in 2025, BAFTA plans to celebrate content for children in the annual film, games and television awards as part of a Young BAFTA rebrand.

The move to present children’s awards in the annual film, games and television BAFTAs is “an evolution of the former Children and Young People awards ceremony,” the organization says, citing “a consistent drop in entries and engagement in recent years.” The ceremony last took place in November 2022 after a two-year pause.

Going forward, Young BAFTA will capture under one banner BAFTA’s outreach programs for children and young people, its support of the children’s media industry and will see new categories for children’s content introduced to BAFTA’s film, games and television awards in 2025.

The new Young BAFTA Advisory Group will be led by BAFTA board member Andrew Miller.

Sara Putt, BAFTA chair, said: “We are evolving the way we celebrate children’s film and television to ensure our support of the children’s media sector is impactful, relevant and sustainable. The new Young BAFTA Advisory Group, to be led by BAFTA board member and industry expert Andrew Miller, will align BAFTA’s longstanding support of the children’s media sector with our charitable mission to bring their excellent work to wider public attention and nurture the next generation of talent. We are grateful for the generosity of time and expertise of BAFTA’s former children’s committee, for their tireless work to date and their support of this next chapter.”

Miller said: “The children’s media industry has so often been at the forefront of progressive, innovative and inspirational storytelling. Many on- and off-screen creatives and practitioners working across the sector owe their careers to children’s media, including me. I am looking forward to working closely with the new Young BAFTA Advisory Group over the coming months to give recognition to the children’s media sector across BAFTA’s globally respected film, games and television awards and elevate BAFTA’s brilliant learning initiatives to inspire the future of the industry.”

Faraz Osman, founder and managing director of Gold Wala and former chair of the BAFTA children’s committee, added: “Along with the Young BAFTA advisory group, I will be supporting BAFTA over the coming months in shaping plans to raise the profile of children’s content and program makers in BAFTA’s awards.”