The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) unveiled 10 upcoming individuals from the screen industries selected for BAFTA Breakthrough in India. Actor Shardul Bharadwaj, who is known for his poignant film Eeb Allay Ooo!, and Abhay Koranne, the writer of the streaming series Rocket Boys have found a place on the list.
This is the first time BAFTA simultaneously introduced its UK, USA, and India participants, with 42 talented individuals selected globally. The ten names for BAFTA Breakthrough India were selected by a jury of industry experts, including Jury Chair and BAFTA Breakthrough Ambassador Guneet Monga Kapoor, Manvendra Shukul, Monika Shergill, Rajiv Menon, Naman Ramachandran, Sid Roy Kapur, Shaunak Sen and Ratna Pathak Shah.
Speaking about the selection, Guneet Monga Kapoor, BAFTA Breakthrough India Ambassador and Jury Chair, said, “There is no shortage of creative talent in India as demonstrated by the previous two iterations of Breakthrough. We had a tough time choosing ten deserving candidates from an enormous pool of fresh candidates. It will be exciting to see how they harness BAFTA Breakthrough's opportunities to hone their craft on a global stage.”
The initiative in partnership with Netflix provides international opportunities for professional development and networking.
Jane Millichip, Chief Executive Officer, BAFTA, said: “BAFTA Breakthrough is a gold standard programme. And the fact that we are celebrating our tenth anniversary is a testament to the dedication of our incredible alumni, industry supporters, juries, and industry advisers. I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed over the years, particularly to our partner Netflix. This year’s cohort is really impressive, having already achieved credits in high-end TV drama, debut films, documentaries, hair and make design; and game design. BAFTA Breakthrough is designed to harness that early success and develop the skills for life-long, rewarding careers. Congratulations to this year’s BAFTA Breakthroughs.”
The India participants for the 2023 BAFTA Breakthrough are Abhay Koranne, Abhinav Tyagi, Don Chacko Palathara, Kislay, Lipika Singh Darai, Miriam Chandy Menacherry, Pooja Rajkumar Rathod, Sanal George, Satya Rai Nagpaul and Shardul Bhardwaj.
See the full list:
Abhay Koranne | Writer - Rocket Boys
Abhinav Tyagi | Editor - An Insignificant Man
Don Chacko Palathara | Director/Writer - Joyful Mystery
Kislay| Writer – Soni
Lipika Singh Darai | Director/Writer - Some Stories Around Witches
Miriam Chandy Menacherry | Producer - From the Shadows and The Leopard's Tribe
Pooja Rajkumar Rathod | Cinematographer - Secrets of the Elephants
Sanal George | Sound Editor/Mixer/Designer - Gangubai Kathiawadi
Satya Rai Nagpaul | Cinematographer – Ghoomketu
Shardul Bhardwaj | Performer - Eeb Allay Ooo!