BAFTA Breakthrough 2026: Hollie Bryan, Imran Perretta Among 21 Rising Creative Talents
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced its 2026 BAFTA Breakthrough UK cohort, recognising 21 emerging creative professionals working across film, television, documentary and video games. Among the selected names are British producer Hollie Bryan and filmmaker Imran Perretta, whose recent projects have attracted industry attention.
The latest selection highlights the growing range of creative talent shaping the UK's entertainment industry. Rather than focusing exclusively on actors and directors, the programme recognises professionals working behind the scenes, including producers, casting directors, writers, designers, game developers and performers.
Now in its 13th year, BAFTA Breakthrough continues to provide a platform for promising individuals who are developing their careers and making their presence felt across the screen industries.
Hollie Bryan Recognised for Producing The Ceremony
Producer Hollie Bryan is one of the notable names in the 2026 film category. Based in Bradford, she has been recognised for her work on The Ceremony, a production that received a BAFTA nomination and achieved an important milestone at the 2024 Edinburgh International Film Festival.
The film won the inaugural Sean Connery Award for Feature Filmmaking Excellence at the festival, bringing further recognition to the production team.
Bryan was also named a Screen Star of Tomorrow in 2026, making her selection for BAFTA Breakthrough another significant development in her professional journey.
Her recognition reflects the importance of film producers in bringing creative projects from development to completion. Producers play a central role in coordinating financing, production arrangements, creative teams and other essential aspects of filmmaking.
Imran Perretta Gains Recognition for Ish
Filmmaker, artist and composer Imran Perretta has also joined the latest BAFTA Breakthrough cohort. His selection follows the international recognition of Ish, his feature directorial debut.
Perretta co-wrote and directed the film, which received the audience award at Venice Critics' Week in 2025. The recognition gave the project an important international platform and highlighted his work as a filmmaker.
His creative background extends beyond conventional filmmaking, incorporating artistic and musical elements. This combination of disciplines reflects the increasingly diverse approaches emerging filmmakers are bringing to contemporary cinema.
Being included in the BAFTA programme provides Perretta with an opportunity to develop further professional relationships and expand his work within the British and international film industries.
Other Film Professionals Selected
The film category features several other creative professionals whose contributions cover different aspects of production.
Scottish filmmaker Louis Paxton, recognised as Screen Rising Star Scotland 2026, joins the programme for his work on The Incomer.
Writer-director Ted Evans has also been selected. His thriller Retreat is particularly notable for being told entirely in British Sign Language, demonstrating how filmmakers can approach storytelling through different forms of communication.
Casting directors Lucy Allen and Tom Payne have been recognised for their work on Sunny Dancer. Their inclusion highlights the importance of casting in shaping film productions and bringing suitable performers into different roles.
Hair and make-up designer Regina Meessen, associated with Dreamers, completes the film category alongside the other selected professionals.
The range of specialisations demonstrates that BAFTA's recognition extends beyond people who appear on screen to the creative teams responsible for the overall filmmaking experience.
Television and Documentary Talent Also Recognised
The 2026 cohort includes professionals from television and documentary production.
Among the television performers are Ella Bruccoleri, associated with The Other Bennet Sister, Izuka Hoyle, recognised for Prisoner, and Sophie Stone, selected for her work in Falling.
Other television selections include production designer Philippa Mumford for the second series of Juice, creator and executive producer Tom Cousins for Rafi the Wishing Wizard, and writer Yassmin Abdel-Magied for Emmerdale.
The documentary and unscripted category includes presenter and producer Chris Lynch for In The Driving Seat, writer-director Myrid Carten for A Want In Her, and producer-reporter Runako Celina for Death In Dubai.
These selections illustrate the breadth of creative work taking place across factual programming, scripted entertainment and television production.
Video Game Creators Included in the Programme
An important feature of this year's selection is the representation of the video game industry.
Five professionals have been recognised in the games category, reflecting the growing importance of interactive entertainment within the wider creative sector.
The selected individuals include writer-director Eloise Singer for The Pirate Queen: No Safe Waters, game director and developer Husban Siddiqi for Rogue Eclipse, and creative director Kate Killick for Pieced Together.
Creator and designer Niru Fekri-Arnold, associated with Cursed Words, and performer Tom McKay, recognised for Mysteria Ecclesiae: Kingdom Come Deliverance DLC, complete the category.
Including game developers, designers and performers alongside film and television professionals reflects how modern entertainment increasingly operates across multiple creative formats.
What BAFTA Breakthrough Offers Emerging Talent
BAFTA Breakthrough is more than an annual recognition programme. Participants receive year-round professional support designed to help them strengthen their careers.
The initiative provides one-to-one meetings, career guidance, networking opportunities and access to BAFTA membership. These benefits can help emerging professionals build connections, gain industry knowledge and identify opportunities for future projects.
The programme is supported by Netflix, which is continuing its partnership for the seventh year.
Its previous participants include internationally recognised performers such as Florence Pugh, Tom Holland, Jessie Buckley, Josh O'Connor, Bella Ramsey, Letitia Wright and Paapa Essiedu.
According to BAFTA, more than 330 people have participated in the programme globally, with its alumni collectively receiving over 200 BAFTA nominations and more than 80 wins.
Why the 2026 Selection Matters
The latest cohort offers an interesting picture of the changing British entertainment industry. Its selections represent different backgrounds, professional experiences and creative disciplines.
For emerging filmmakers such as Hollie Bryan and Imran Perretta, the recognition comes at a time when their recent projects have already attracted attention beyond their immediate professional circles.
The programme also acknowledges the contributions of people whose work may not always receive the same public visibility as actors and directors. Casting, production design, hair and make-up, writing and game development are all essential to the entertainment industry's creative output.
For the wider industry, initiatives such as BAFTA Breakthrough can help identify promising professionals and connect them with established networks. While participation does not guarantee future awards or commercial success, access to guidance and professional relationships can provide valuable support during important career stages.
With 21 creatives selected for 2026, BAFTA is continuing its effort to recognise talent across the UK's film, television, documentary and gaming industries. The careers of these emerging professionals will be worth following as they move towards their next creative projects.
