Below are the key changes in the review:

Membership

• An unprecedented expansion to further diversify BAFTA’s membership and meaningfully target 1,000 new members from under-represented groups
• Membership survey to be sent out later this month – completion is a requirement for voting – to allow BAFTA to set targets to address areas of under-representation
• Clearer contextualisation of ‘Excellence’ in reference to BAFTA’s mission and other measures for voting members will be put in place to ensure an informed voting process

EE British Academy Film Awards 2021

• A new longlisting Round of voting in all categories to achieve greater diversity in nominations
• It is now compulsory for all voters, chapters and juries to watch all longlisted films before Round 2 voting, to level the playing field across all titles
• Major rule changes and increase in nominations in the acting and directing categories to address a continuing lack of diversity in the performance categories and a historic lack of female representation in the directing category
• Outstanding British Film – an increase to ten nominations to ensure a stronger focus on British film within the Film Awards and the ceremony itself
• Changes to campaigning aimed at ensuring a fairer consideration of all films regardless of marketing budget
• All entered films to be available on the new BAFTA View portal (with titles added over six months prior to the ceremony) to allow for better voter access to all entered films and wider viewership across all films
• BAFTA continues to endorse the BFI Diversity Standards as an effective tool for driving meaningful change in the industry, and will continue to work with the BFI to expand the use of the BFI Diversity Standards as eligibility criteria across a wider range of categories
• BAFTA is supporting the BFI’s review of the BFI Diversity Standards and its work with other UK partners, and with AMPAS, to strengthen and develop the framework for maximum impact

BAFTA Chair Krishnendu Majumdar, said: “This is a watershed moment for BAFTA. The Academy has never opened itself up like this before.  The sessions with contributors were tough, chastening, captivating and very moving.  Many colleagues from under-represented groups bravely shared their experiences of racism and discrimination in their careers. They also shared their ideas and hopes for BAFTA’s future, which we have embraced.  There is a real wish and support for BAFTA to continue to be an industry leader on diversity and other issues. Representation matters and we’ve all been starkly reminded of this with the rise of the global anti-racist movement. This creative renewal is not just about changes to the awards and membership – this is a reappraisal of our values and the culture of BAFTA. We want long term and sustainable change throughout the industry. We know how far we have to go and how difficult this is especially due to the profound impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our industry. Today’s announcement marks just the first phase of our process as we evolve as an Academy.”

BAFTA Film Committee Chair Marc Samuelson said: “It became very clear during the Review how vital it is to level the playing field across all that we do as an organisation, not just the awards. One of the key issues raised time and time again throughout the process was that too much deserving work was not being seen. The changes we are implementing are designed to ensure these films are seen and judged on merit alone. The ambition is for BAFTA to evolve into a more inclusive organisation, one representing and celebrating the full breadth of talent in our industries.”

BAFTA Chief Executive Amanda Berry OBE said: “I am incredibly grateful to the vast number of people who have given their time and shared their wisdom and experiences throughout the Review to help us determine what we can do better as an organisation. The ongoing passion and expertise of our members is the lifeblood of BAFTA and I am constantly inspired by their incredible contribution. The first phase of findings in our Review gives us a fantastic opportunity to build on BAFTA’s strong foundation, as we look to make substantial cultural and organisational change.”

The Review has been led by BAFTA Chair Krishnendu Majumdar, Film Committee Chair Marc Samuelson and a specially formed Steering Group. It was convened from all sectors of BAFTA as well as independent specialists drawn from the creative industries, other industries and diversity & inclusion experts. Its members include Chair of BAFTA LA and Head of TriStar Television Kathryn Busby, filmmaker and actor Noel Clarke, academic and co-founder of RizTest Sadia Habib, Film London’s Film & TV Executive/Founder of the Equal Access Network’s Nahrein Kemp, ITV Group Director of Diversity and Inclusion Ade Rawcliffe, the BFI’s Head of Inclusion Jennifer Smith and thinkBIGGER!’s Talent Manager and Disability Specialist Samantha Tatlow.

The Steering Group scrutinised all areas of BAFTA, with a particular focus on its Film Awards for changes in the first year. They spoke with over 400 people, including members, senior industry figures, guilds, industry bodies, currently under-represented groups, press and a significant number of prominent figures within all aspects of the filmmaking community in the UK, US and internationally.

Significant changes to the Television Awards will also be announced next month, and separate Games and Children’s Awards Reviews are being conducted later this year.

A full copy of the Review with all changes can be found here.

Jon Creamer

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