Rocket Boys writer Abhay Koranne and Joyful Mystery director-writer Don Chacko Palathara are among Indian creatives who have made it to BAFTA’s 2023 Breakthrough list featuring emerging writers, editors and directors from the film, games and television industry in the UK, US and India.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), in association with Netflix, unveiled its 2023 Breakthrough list of 42 emerging creatives from the three counties on Wednesday.
SonyLIV series Rocket Boys, starring Jim Sarbh and Ishwak Singh, is based on the lives of Indian scientists Homi Jehangir Bhabha and Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai, who came together to build the country’s first nuclear bomb. Palathara’s Joyful Mystery, on the other hand, tells the story of a couple in Kerala who discuss their future on their way to a doctor’s clinic. The 2021 film is available to watch on Apple TV.
An Insignificant Man editor Abhinav Tyagi, Soni writer Kislay also featured in the list, Some Stories Around Witches director Lipika Singh Darai, Secrets of the Elephants cinematographer Pooja Rajkumar Rathod and Gangubai Kathiawadi sound editor Sanal George also feature in the list.
The creatives were selected by a jury of industry experts such as Guneet Monga and Ratna Pathak Shah.
“There is no shortage of creative talent in India as demonstrated by the previous two iterations of BAFTA Breakthrough. We had a tough time choosing ten deserving candidates from an enormous pool of fresh candidates,” said Monga, who is the ambassador for BAFTA Breakthrough in India.
From the UK set, twenty creative candidates were shortlisted. Dreaming Whilst Black writer Adjani Salmon, The Last of Us actor Bella Ramsey, Rain Dogs creator Cash Carraway and Scrapper director Charlotte Regan made it to the top of the list. Meanwhile, Georgia Oakley’s Blue Jean has got three nominations — for the director, hair and makeup designer Kat Morgan and a third for actress Rosy McEwen.
Twelve creatives from the US have been selected for 2023 Breakthrough list. It includes Joyland producer Apoorva Charan, 1923 actress Aminah Nieves, STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor senior games writer Cheyenne Pualani Morrin and Nam June Paik: Moon Is The Oldest TV director Amanda Kim.
