BAFTA Names 21 Creatives to 2026 Breakthrough Cohort

BAFTA has selected 21 creatives for its 2026 Breakthrough cohort, the thirteenth edition of the scheme. Filmmaker Imran Perretta and actor Ella Bruccoleri headline the list.

Perretta is recognised as co-writer and director of Ish. Bruccoleri is named for her performance in The Other Bennet Sister. Both sit within a 21-person cohort spread across four categories.

What does Breakthrough actually give winners?

BAFTA describes recipients as being in the "midst of or on the cusp of their breakthrough moment as creatives." The award is not a trophy but a year-long programme. It includes one-to-one meetings, career guidance, full BAFTA voting membership, access to BAFTA events, and screenings plus networking events in the UK and internationally.

That voting membership matters for the wider awards race. Each cohort of 21 adds fully enfranchised BAFTA voters drawn from early-career film, television, documentary and games talent.

Selection runs through an open application process. Anyone can apply; BAFTA does not hand-pick the cohort.

Who made the 2026 list?

The 21 names break down across four categories. Film takes seven slots, documentary and unscripted take three, TV takes six, and games take five.

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 (Series 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

What is the alumni track record?

The scheme's alumni list carries real awards weight. Josh O'Connor, Florence Pugh, Jessie Buckley, Letitia Wright, Paapa Essiedu and Tom Holland have all passed through Breakthrough. That is one future Oscar nominee and multiple BAFTA and Academy Award contenders from previous cohorts.

Further alumni include Jim LeBrecht, Lauren Ridloff, Brandon Perea, Laurie Nunn and Sarah Lampert. The list spans acting, directing, writing and producing.

BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip said in a statement: "This year's cohort comes from fantastically diverse backgrounds and skill sets, which really enrich the stories they bring to our screens."

Why the timing matters

The announcement lands ahead of the BAFTA Film Awards, which take place on 21 February. The new cohort will not vote in that ceremony unless already members, but the intake signals which early-career names BAFTA is tracking for future cycles.

Thirteen years in, Breakthrough now functions as a reliable pipeline indicator: names selected today tend to appear on BAFTA shortlists within a few seasons. The 2026 cohort's games contingent, at five names, also marks the category's continued weight in the scheme's mix.