Meet the UK’s 2025 video game BAFTA Breakthroughs

The 2025 UK BAFTA Breakthroughs have been revealed, with the games cohort made up of Kyle Banks (director, Farewell North), Stanley Baxton (solo developer, Latex, Leather, Lipstick, Love, Lust), Sally Beaumont (lead voice actor/script consultant, Old Skies), Mark Choi (composer, Empire of the Ants), and Cara Ellison (writer/narrative designer, Ghost Town).

BAFTA Breakthrough UK is supported by Netflix, and the full list of Breakthroughs is made up of 20 ‘must watch’ creatives working in film, games, and television in the UK. This is the 12th year of BAFTA’s flagship new talent programme, and globally, more than 330 people have been selected by the initiative.

Follow the links below for exclusive interviews with each member of the 2025 BAFTA Breakthrough games cohort:

The BAFTA Breakthrough UK initiative provides the nominees with one-to-one meetings and career guidance, as well as full voting membership for the BAFTA Awards and access to BAFTA networking events and screenings. The US Breakthrough cohort will be announced in December.

“It is an absolute pleasure to welcome this year’s outstanding participants of BAFTA Breakthrough,” said Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA, in a press statement. “For 12 years this BAFTA talent programme has supported creatives and practitioners in film, games and television to navigate the often complex corridors of the screen arts. I am enormously grateful to Netflix for their continued support of BAFTA and for their shared passion and commitment to providing opportunity and career pathways for UK talent from all backgrounds.”

Anne Mensah, Vice President, UK Content at Netflix, said: “Netflix is passionate about supporting and uplifting the next generation of talent from across the industry. The Breakthrough UK cohort announced today comprises such an exciting range of names, and it is an honour to continue to support an initiative that will help these brilliant creatives build connections, improve confidence, and ultimately launch the next phase of their careers.”

The full list of 2025 UK BAFTA Breakthroughs is below:

Games

• Cara Ellison (writer and narrative designer, Ghost Town)
• Kyle Banks (director, Farewell North)
• Mark Choi (composer, Empire of the Ants)
• Sally Beaumont (lead voice actor/script consultant/additional writing, Old Skies)
• Stanley Baxton (solo developer, Latex, Leather, Lipstick, Love, Lust)

Film

• Akinola Davies Jr (director/co-writer, My Father’s Shadow)
• Laura Carreira (director/writer, On Falling)
• Marie-Elena Dyche (producer, Harvest)

Documentary

• Meg Inman (co-director/producer, Atomic People)
• Olaide Sadiq (director, Grenfell: Uncovered)
• Pinny Grylls (director/writer/editor, Grand Theft Hamlet)

TV

• Alderney Middleton (series producer, Maddie + Triggs)
• Ellis Howard (performer, What It Feels Like for a Girl)
• Jodie-Simone Howe (costume designer, Mr Loverman)
• Nathaniel Price (writer/associate producer, Mr Loverman)
• Matty Gurney (performer, Reunion)
• Nathalie Pitters (director of photography, Brian and Maggie)
• Owen Tooth (director, EastEnders)
• Stephanie Taylor (composer, The Search For Nicola Bulley)
• Vivian Eguridu (senior casting producer, Love is Blind UK Series 1)