Bafta has scrapped the high-profile Britannia Awards in Los Angeles, additionally announcing that it is expanding its activity with year-round presentations of special awards in North America.
The plan is to stage a rolling schedule of bespoke events honouring talent in film, television and games. An inaugural event is expected to take place in Los Angeles, however at time of writing Bafta representatives had not provided a date.
The move comes one year after Bafta expanded its North American operations to address membership benefits and grow its inclusion and talent programmes. The group had an inaugural presence at Toronto International Film Festival.
However UK expatriates in Hollywood and the industry at large will lament the disappearance of the star-studded Britannia Awards. The popular ceremony honouring UK and global talent was established to boost Bafta’s profile and shine a light on UK talent in Hollywood.
It became a signature event for Bafta LA and a timely awards season staging post for Hollywood talent, typically taking place in late October at The Beverly Hilton.
Sources say the fate of the Britannias had been under discussion for some years. It was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic and again in 2021, when organisers said they would reschedule for this year.
Recipients of the new special awards throughout the year will be proposed by Bafta members, sector committees and the Bafta North America board chaired by Kathryn Busby, and each will get a Bafta mask.
Busby called Monday’s (September 26) developments “an incredibly exciting moment”, while Matthew Wiseman, executive director and head of North America for Bafta, added: “To be able to capture the same spirit and warmth of the Britannia Awards event, and now present honorary awards throughout the year and in different cities, is an exciting prospect that will enable BAFTA to celebrate those who have made exceptional contributions to our industry in even more impactful and unique ways.”
Bafta LA was established in 1987, followed by Bafta New York in 1996. There are close to 2,000 North American members and activities include screenings and Q&A programmes, tea parties, Bafta Breakthrough USA, the Yugo Bafta Student Awards, the US Newcomers Program, scholarships, and the Vance Byrd Mentorship programme.
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