Kathryn Ferguson named in 2023 BAFTA Breakthrough cohort
Date Posted: November 30, 2023
BAFTA has announced the 2023 BAFTA Breakthrough cohort, featuring 42 ‘must-watch’ creatives working in film, games and television, from across the UK, US and India. Northern Ireland Screen is delighted to see Belfast woman Kathryn Ferguson feature on the prestigious list. Kathryn is the writer/director of Nothing Compares, a feature documentary that charts Sinéad OʼConnorʼs phenomenal rise to worldwide fame and examines how she used her voice at the height of her stardom, before her iconoclastic personality led to her exile from the pop mainstream.
BAFTA Breakthrough is the arts charity’s flagship talent initiative in partnership with Netflix, providing a springboard to creatives spanning craft specialisms from hair & make up, production, editing and games design, to performance, directing and cinematography.
Awarded to those in the midst of, or on the cusp of their breakthrough moment, the year-long initiative includes one-to-one meetings and career guidance, full voting membership, access to BAFTA events and screenings, as well as networking events, both in the UK and internationally.
This year’s participants have been involved with some of the most exciting creative debuts and projects over the last year. Selected by a jury comprised of leading cross-industry figures led by BAFTA sector committee chairs and members including Ade Rawcliffe, Sara Putt, Emily Stillman, Emma Morgan and Anisa Sanusi in the UK and Aadip Desai (USA) and Guneet Monga (India.
BAFTA’s CEO Jane Millichip, said: “BAFTA Breakthrough is a gold standard programme. And the fact that we are celebrating our ten-year anniversary is 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, and 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 full list of 2023 BAFTA Breakthroughs can be found here.
