BAFTA Breakthrough U.K.: Ella Bruccoleri, Sophie Stone, Izuka Hoyle Among 21 Rising Creatives

The BAFTA Breakthrough 2026 U.K. creatives, supported by Netflix, have been unveiled, showcasing rising talent across film, TV and games on the 21-strong annual list.

“BAFTA Breakthrough, supported by Netflix, is BAFTA’s flagship new talent initiative to accelerate extraordinary people working in games, TV and film who are on the cusp or in the midst of a breakthrough moment or year,” BAFTA highlights. It is now in its 13th year.

Among the names in the BAFTA Breakthrough U.K. cohort are The Other Bennet Sister star Ella Bruccoleri, Falling star Sophie Stone and Prisoner star Izuka Hoyle.

“This year’s U.K. cohort spans craft specialisms across casting, production, directing, performing and writing, and have worked on some of the most acclaimed projects of the last year,” BAFTA said. BAFTA North America will unveil the Breakthrough U.S. talent later this month.

The BAFTA Breakthrough program offers “a springboard into the next phase of their careers with year-round support, one-to-one meetings, career guidance and access to industry networking events as well as full BAFTA membership,” BAFTA highlights. “Globally, over 330 people have passed through the program, ranging from screenwriters and actors to game designers, art directors, editors, and costume designers. Many go on to develop their own features, games, or TV shows and achieve national and international acclaim, including more than 200 BAFTA nominations and over 80 wins.”

Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA, said: “BAFTA Breakthrough is a hugely impactful program. It champions talented creatives and practitioners from all three screen sectors, and it is designed to give them the support and connections to build lasting careers. This year’s cohort comes from fantastically diverse backgrounds and skill sets which really enrich the stories they bring to our screens.”

Said Anne Mensah, vp, U.K. content at Netflix: “We are so proud to back BAFTA Breakthrough for a seventh year. It forms an important part of Generation N, our commitment to supporting new, emerging and mid-career talent in the U.K. The group announced today is an incredibly exciting range of names, and it is an honour to help them flourish with the guidance and support this programme provides.”

Check out the full list of this year’s BAFTA Breakthrough U.K. cohort below.
* applied as a team

FILM
Hollie Bryan, Producer – The Ceremony
Louis Paxton, Writer/Director – The Incomer
Lucy Allen*, Casting Director – Sunny Dancer
Imran Perretta, Co-Writer/Director – Ish
Regina Meessen, Hair and Make-Up Designer – Dreamers
Ted Evans, Writer/Director – Retreat
Tom Payne*, Casting Director – Sunny Dancer

DOCUMENTARY/UNSCRIPTED
Chris Lynch, Presenter and Producer – In the Driving Seat
Myrid Carten, Writer/Director – A Want in Her
Runako Celina, Producer and Reporter – Death in Dubai

TV
Ella Bruccoleri, Performer – The Other Bennet Sister
Izuka Hoyle, Performer – Prisoner
Philippa Mumford, Production Designer – Juice (season 2)
Sophie Stone, Performer – Falling
Tom Cousins, Creator and Executive Producer – Rafi the Wishing Wizard
Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Writer – Emmerdale

GAMES
Eloise Singer, Writer/Director – The Pirate Queen: No Safe Waters
Husban Siddiqi, Game Director and Developer – Rogue Eclipse
Kate Killick, Creative Director – Pieced Together
Niru Fekri-Arnold, Creator/Designer – Cursed Words
Tom McKay, Performer – Mysteria Ecclesiae: Kingdom Come Deliverance DLC