Talent behind series ranging from BBC investigation Death in Dubai to ITV soap Emmerdale and BBC3 comedy Juice are among this year’s Bafta Breakthrough cohort.
Bafta has unveiled its 13th annual list of ‘must-watch’ creatives working in TV, film and games. The Netflix-sponsored list features a mix of 21 front-of-screen talent and behind-the-scenes creatives.
Runako Celina, whose BBC Eye film Death in Dubai sparked debate in the Ugandan government, describes her work as “political and playful, serious and celebratory”.
She said that starting her career outside the UK gave her confidence about “resisting some of the industry’s narrower conventions around tone, form and authority”.
Also recognised is Tom Cousins, who worked on CBeebies animations Kit & Pup and JoJo & Gran Gran prior to creating and executive producing Rafi the Wishing Wizard.
Other Bafta Breakthrough names include Juice production designer Philippa Mumford, Emmerdale writer Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Chris Lynch, who presented and produced BBC1 documentary In the Driving Seat, and casting directors Lucy Allen and Tom Payne, who have worked on Netflix drama Heartstopper and the film Sunny Dancer.
On-screen names include The Other Bennet Sister’s Ella Bruccoleri and Izuka Hoyle, who starred in Channel 4’s Big Boys and Sky thriller Prisoner.
The individuals will receive year-round support, one-to-one meetings, career guidance, access to industry networking events and full Bafta membership.
See the full list of Bafta Breakthrough 2026 names here
