Screen International has unveiled the 2026 lineup for Stars of Tomorrow, which highlights 20 rising stars across acting and filmmaking in the UK and Ireland.
Scroll down for profiles
Now in its 23rd year, the annual talent programme has an unparalleled track record for identifying emerging UK and Irish talent, both in front of and behind the camera, since its launch in 2004.
This year’s Stars of Tomorrow cohort comprises ten actors and ten filmmakers. Among the actors selected are Bo Bragason, who has been cast in the title role of Sony’s upcoming video-game adaptation The Legend Of Zelda; Galaxie Clear, who will star as Pandora in BBC series The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾; Isla Johnston, who is set to play Joan of Arc in Baz Luhrmann’s biopic; Sekou Diaby, who stars in Ashley Walter’s feature directing debut Animol; Cal O’Driscoll, who has a key role in the Peaky Blinders sequel series; and Mitchell Robertson, who played the young Niall in Richard Gadd’s Half Man.
Filmmakers include Jonathan Schey, the director of Everybody Wants To F**k Me which recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF); Yasmin Afifi, whose Bafta-winning short Jellyfish And Lobster is being developed into a feature with BBC Film; Wasteman screenwriter Eoin Doran; Luis Hindman, who has two feature projects in the works with Film4; and Masc director Bertil Nilsson, which also premiered at TIFF this year.
This year’s cohort hails from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland, plus two who were born outside the UK and are now resident here.
The 2026 edition is the first overseen by Screen International’s awards and box office editor Charles Gant, following many successful editions curated by Fionnuala Halligan.
Gant said: “What an incredible privilege it has been to curate this 23rd edition of Screen Stars of Tomorrow UK and Ireland. Viewing actor showreels, short films, scenes and whole features, and reading screenplays and pitch decks – with more than 350-plus applicants this year, this has been no small undertaking, but a thoroughly inspiring one. The field of filmmaking and acting talent in the UK and Ireland is rich and deep, and bodes excitingly and tantalisingly for our future.”
The 2026 UK & Ireland Stars of Tomorrow will be celebrated in a special event in London this week. Spotlight is the sponsor for this year’s edition.
Click on the names below for profiles of each star.
Actors
- Bo Bragason
- Galaxie Clear
- Sekou Diaby
- Leisa Gwenllian
- Isla Johnston
- Jonathan Jules
- David McKenna
- Cal O’Driscoll
- Mitchell Robertson
- Rosie Sheehy
Filmmakers
- Yasmin Afifi (writer/director)
- Fateme Ahmadi (writer/director)
- Dorothy Allen-Pickard (writer/director)
- Hollie Bryan (producer)
- Eoin Doran (writer/director)
- Luis Hindman (writer/director)
- Bertil Nilsson (writer/director)
- Theo Rhys (writer/director)
- Jonathan Schey (writer/director)
- Katie Sinclair (producer)
Applications for 2027 UK & Ireland Stars of Tomorrow will open next year.
Previous Screen Stars of Tomorrow include James McAvoy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Emily Blunt, director Andrea Arnold, Eddie Redmayne, Riz Ahmed, Andrew Garfield, Felicity Jones, Jack Thorne, Claire Foy, Tom Hiddleston, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Andrew Haigh, Emilia Clark, John Boyega,Tom Holland, Will Poulter, Taron Egerton, Jack Lowden, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Barry Keoghan,Florence Pugh, Jodie Comer, Jessie Buckley, Harris Dickinson, Michaela Coel, Rapman, Paul Mescal, Emma Corrin, Aaron Pierre, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Richard Gadd and Owen Cooper.
Profiles by: Helen O’Hara, Charles Gant, Matt Maytum, Dave Calhoun, Catherine Bray, Thea Middleton, Oliwia Kamieniecka, Ellie Calnan, Mona Tabbara, Ben Dalton, Orlando Parfitt
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