BAFTA has officially announced its annual list of Breakthroughs, identifying 21 promising creatives across UK film, television, and video games. This year's gaming cohort features five individuals who will receive career guidance, access to industry networking events, and full BAFTA membership through a program supported by Netflix. Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA, described the initiative as "hugely impactful," noting that it is designed to provide recipients with the support and connections necessary to build lasting careers.
The selected video game professionals include Eloise Singer, Husban Siddiqi, Kate Killick, Niru Fekri-Arnold, and Tom McKay. Eloise Singer, a writer and director known for the Emmy-nominated VR experience The Pirate Queen: No Safe Waters, is also the CEO of Singer Studios. Singer noted that this selection marks her eighth attempt at joining the Breakthrough initiative. She expressed excitement about the collaborative nature of game development and the opportunity to connect with mentors across film and immersive storytelling sectors.
Husban Siddiqi, a game director and developer, was selected following the release of his debut project, Rogue Eclipse, a spaceflight shooter roguelike funded by Innersloth's Outersloth fund in 2024. Siddiqi highlighted the intersection of art and technology in games and expressed a desire to use the program to support others starting their journeys in the industry. He credited previous BAFTA initiatives with helping him connect with the talented team behind his debut title.
Kate Killick, CEO and creative director of Glowfrog Games, joins the list after her studio's debut educational title, Pieced Together, launched last year. Killick described the project as a culmination of years of perseverance during a challenging time for the wider industry. She anticipates that the program will raise the visibility of her studio and connect her with opportunities otherwise inaccessible while she develops their second game focused on seaglass mosaics.
Niru Fekri-Arnold, co-founder of indie studio Buried Things, was recognized for his work on Cursed Words, which launched earlier this year. Before founding his studio, Fekri-Arnold worked on immersive projects with The National Theatre and NASA. He emphasized the importance of creating games with a "human soul" amidst the rise of AI products and praised BAFTA for championing creative talent and providing stepping stones for aspiring artists.
Rounding out the group is Tom McKay, an actor trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, best known to gamers as Henry of Skalitz in the Kingdom Come: Deliverance franchise. McKay described his transition into video games as one of the most inspiring experiences of his life. He hopes the initiative will open further opportunities in the medium, which he views as having limitless narrative scope and fostering beautiful, supportive communities.
Sources: GamesIndustry.biz.