TBB Talks to ... 2020 BAFTA Breakthrough Brits

BAFTA has announced this year's BAFTA Breakthrough Brits. The initiative that identifies the most exciting new talent coming up in the film, games and television industries and gives them access to unique career development and mentoring opportunities. 

TBB's Hannah Shury-Smith and Whelan Barzey spoke to some of the Breakthrough Brits about being recognised by BAFTA at this point of their career and what they hope they will get out of it ...

We speak to -

• Bukky Bakray, Performer - breakthrough credit: Rocks (Rocks is on Netflix now) - watch Rocks trailer HERE
• Bukky had never acted before when approached to star in Sarah Gavron’s coming-of-age film Rocks. Bakray plays the title role of schoolgirl Rocks
• Tamara Lawrance, Performer - breakthrough credit: The Long Song (on BBC and you can also watch episode one HERE) - watch Long Song trailer HERE
• Tamara Lawrance graduated in 2015 and established herself on the stage in lead roles at London’s Royal Court Theatre and National Theatre. In December 2018 she starred as Miss July, a former slave on a sugar plantation in 19th-century Jamaica, in the three-part BBC adaptation of Andrea Levy's novel The Long Song. She was selected as one of the 2018 Screen Stars of Tomorrow.

• Abigail Dankwa, Multi Camera Director - breakthrough credit: Love Song (on BBC)
• Abigail Dankwa has multi-camera directed WonderBall (BBC Scotland, 2019), !mpossible (BBC 1) Tipping Point (ITV 1) , 24 Hours in A&E (C4), Big Brother & Celebrity Big Brother (C5) and Multi Camera Director VIP Arrivals Champions League Final Milan (UEFA), after working as a Studio Floor Manager, with a background in TV production and broadcast management.

• Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, Producer - breakthrough credit: Blue Story (Blue Story is on Amazon now) - watch Blue Story trailer HERE
• Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, is a producer and writer whose recent works include the highly acclaimed Blue Story, written and directed by Andrew “Rapman” Onwubolu. In 2019, she was nominated for “Breakthrough Producer” at the BIFAs. In 2020, Joi Productions was awarded a BFI Vision Award and selected as one of the Screen 2020 Stars Of Tomorrow. She currently has projects in development at BFI, BBC Films and Film4.

• Bim Ajadi, Director - breakthrough credit: Here / Not Here - watch Here / Not Here trailer HERE
• Bim Ajadi is an accomplished and award winning independent filmmaker with more than 15 years experience. He has worked for leading broadcasters and independently as a director and editor and produced high quality television documentaries, music videos and dramatic shorts.
• Here Not Here is a hip hop music drama showcasing a new visual language for story-telling by combining British Sign Language, Visual Vernacular, urban dance, music, and football. It is led by deaf artists and directed by Bim Ajadi who is also deaf.

• Ruka Johnson, Costume Designer - breakthrough credit: Blue Story 
• Ruka Johnson is a Costume Designer and stylist who worked on both Blue Story and Rocks. Additional credits include Through The Gates, Bruno, Sliced, amongst others.

• Chella Ramanan, Narrative Designer/Writer - breakthrough credit: Before I Forget - 4* review HERE
• Chella Ramanan was a games journalist. Three years ago, she started building her own game along with artist and programmer, Claire Morley, and a small team of art, music, and audio contributors. The indie, self-published game, titled Before I Forget – a narrative exploration centered on a character with dementia, is set to launch next year.
• Ramanan also co-founded POC in Play, an independent diversity organisation built to increase the visibility and representation of people of color in the videogame industry

See the full list of the 2020 BAFTA Breakthrough Brits HERE