BAFTA & dunhill Launch Partnership Through BAFTA Elevate

BAFTA and British luxury menswear house dunhill have launched a two-year partnership through BAFTA Elevate to support talent working in documentary and specialist factual.

The program, backed by filmmaker Asif Kapadia (Amy, Senna, 2073), advocacy organization We Are Doc Women and presenter, actor and director Reggie Yates (Reggie Yates: Extreme Russia, Reggie Yates: Insider), will support up to 20 mid-senior development producers, producers, directors and producer-directors from underrepresented backgrounds. BAFTA will offer the selected participants networking and industry exposure, as well as wider knowledge-building and focused professional development opportunities over two years.

Applications for the program are open now through October 18. The cohort will be unveiled in February 2025 at dunhill’s annual pre-BAFTA dinner and party. Women will represent at least 50 percent of the chosen cohort.

Over the last 18 months, BAFTA has held over 40 consultations, roundtables and masterclasses with BAFTA Award-winning directors, producers, commissioners and heads of departments at pubic-service broadcasters, independent production companies and streamers on the state of documentary and factual program-making today and where progress is needed. This program is in response to that.

“BAFTA has a mission to level the playing for those in society who face barriers and bias in pursuit of a career in the screen industries,” said Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA. “BAFTA Elevate provides opportunity for the voices held back by inequality and encourages people from underrepresented groups to share their stories, and in so doing, enrich our cultural landscape. dunhill shares our commitment to foster British creativity and innovation, and we are grateful for their generous support, which has made BAFTA Elevate possible.”

Andrew Holmes, CEO ad interim of dunhill, commented, “It is a privilege for dunhill to support the BAFTA Elevate program, a commitment to leveling the playing field for those working in documentary and specialist factual television. The house has a proud and long-standing connection to British filmmaking and screen culture, alongside initiatives that champion diversity within the workplace and wider fashion industry. Supporting BAFTA Elevate is a natural next step in evolving our relationship with BAFTA and uniting our shared values—we’re very excited to be part of the journey.”

“In many ways, I have often felt like an outsider within the U.K., within education, within the film industry,” Kapadia said. “But I always tried to use this as an advantage; I speak more than one language, I have grown up with an understanding and respect of different cultures, customs, faiths, ways of thinking. Through my work, I [have] been fortunate to travel the world. I use all this experience in my work. I hope BAFTA Elevate can give people with stories like mine the agency, profile and backing to be an outsider but be on the inside. Our experience makes us special; that’s our superpower. To use what makes us unique to tell stories which emotionally engage, and maybe change the way people think and behave. It’s not just the right thing to do, it’s integral to the relevance and success of documentary filmmaking.”

Yates commented, “The most powerful documentaries are those that offer a window into the lives of people, events, and perspectives we might not have connected with otherwise – we need different voices and fresh perspectives so we’re not just recycling the same old stories. That’s why it’s heartening to see BAFTA and Dunhill throw their weight behind a new generation of underrepresented voices in the documentary sector who despite their talents and their brilliant ideas are being held back by a lack of insider knowledge, industry connections and confidence. Anna Scher’s community drama club helped me start my career, which is why the support and mentorship provided by initiatives like BAFTA Elevate resonates so strongly. They’re not just creating opportunities, they’re widening the community, and that’s something I’m genuinely excited about.”

We Are Doc Women added, “It’s disappointing that in 2024 there are still significant disparities in factual and documentary talent opportunities–as highlighted in our own research, which led to our 50/50 pledge calling on broadcasters and production companies to ensure half of their factual programs are directed by women. And there are also huge intersectional barriers that many talented women face, making it even harder for a lot of us to stay in the industry, hone our skills and develop our ideas. We are pleased to see BAFTA shine a light on these persistent inequities and we’ll be encouraging our community to apply.”