Charles Gant

Source: Screen File

Charles Gant

Charles Gant, Screen International’s awards and box office editor, will take over as curator of the publication’s UK & Ireland Stars of Tomorrow showcase starting with its 2026 edition.

The latest iteration of Screen’s annual talent initiative, now in its 22nd year, marks the final one curated by Fionnuala Halligan, who departed Screen this summer to become director of international programmes for Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival. Her final cohort of UK & Ireland Stars of Tomorrow will be unveiled on Thursday (September 25).

Halligan took over the programme in 2011 and, during her 15-year tenure, the number of applications grew substantially, bolstered by an application process that ensures Stars of Tomorrow operates a level playing field, with access open to all.

Including this year’s cohort, Halligan selected more than 400 actors and filmmakers to be showcased as rising stars from the UK or Ireland, including actors Florence Pugh, Josh O’Connor, Jodie Comer, Naomi Ackie, Bella Ramsey and Harris Dickinson; filmmakers Molly Manning Walker and Rose Glass; producers Sarah Brocklehurst and Emily Morgan; and recently appointed Film4 director Farhana Bhula.

Gant has participated on juries and longlisting juries for the Bafta Film Awards’ rising star category since its inception in 2005; served a four-year term on the Bafta outstanding British filmmaker jury; has been a keen supporter and active voter for the British Independent Film Awards for more than a decade; and also served on European Film Promotion’s Shooting Stars jury.

Gant said: “I have taken a great interest in Screen’s Stars of Tomorrow programme since its inception, and in recent years have been lucky to be involved as a commissioning editor and writer for Screen’s coverage. I share Finn’s passion for championing new talent, and I’m proud and humbled now to have the curatorial torch passed to me by Screen. Finn and her Stars of Tomorrow predecessor Patricia Dobson have bequeathed an outstanding legacy – one I hope to live up to.”

Screen’s editor-in-chief Matt Mueller said: “These were always going to be big shoes to fill – as Charles says himself, Finn and her predecessor Patricia Dobson have bequeathed an outstanding legacy. But I couldn’t be more delighted to entrust Stars of Tomorrow to Charles, who brings his own extensive experience in championing new talent, and I look forward to working closely with him as we steer our UK & Ireland rising-star showcase into the future.”

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