India-wide release, 13 July 2023: BAFTA (The British Academy of Film and Television Arts) has today announced renowned filmmaker Guneet Monga Kapoor as its newly appointed Breakthrough India Ambassador for 2023. Now in its third iteration, the BAFTA Breakthrough program supported by Netflix aims to identify, support and nurture the next generation of talent in the Indian film, games and television industries.
Guneet Monga Kapoor is an accomplished Indian film producer and BAFTA nominee who has been selected as the Breakthrough India Ambassador for her remarkable contributions to the world of cinema. With a prolific career in film, as the founder of Mumbai-based production house Sikhya Entertainment, Guneet has received international recognition for her outstanding work. She is also the recipient of the Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and has been acknowledged by esteemed institutions such as the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the US Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs.
Guneet has been closely involved with the BAFTA Breakthrough program in India, serving as an industry supporter and jury member in 2022, where she played a crucial role in helping BAFTA navigate India’s rich and diverse talent pool while also raising awareness about the program. This appointment will further empower emerging creatives, offering them unparalleled opportunities to excel on a global platform.
Guneet Monga Kapoor, Founder & CEO of Sikhya Entertainment, Film Producer, said: “It’s an honour to take on this Ambassador role, following in the footsteps of A.R. Rahman to help raise the profile of emerging talent across the creative industries in India. Having served as an industry supporter and jury member for BAFTA Breakthrough in 2022, I can confidently say that the scheme has benefited some outstanding independent Indian talents. I have witnessed careers accelerate with the type of unique platform organisations like BAFTA and Netflix can provide and forward to seeing the wealth of applications of homegrown talent this year.”
Tim Hunter,Executive Director of Learning, Inclusion, Policy and Membership at BAFTA, said: “We are delighted to welcome Guneet as the Breakthrough India Ambassador this year. The program is dedicated to identifying and nurturing new Indian creatives and will surely benefit from her exceptional talent and rich industry expertise as an accomplished producer and filmmaker. BAFTA remains committed to nurturing and creating a diverse and inclusive industry that champions creativity and originality and so we are pleased to also extend the application deadline by two weeks and encourage those interested to find out more and apply!”
Monika Shergill, Vice President of Content at Netflix India, said: “The Breakthrough program not only allows the upcoming Indian creative community global exposure but also provides a fertile ground for the cross-cultural exchange of ideas on an unprecedented scale. We look forward to continuing our support for the initiative and remain committed to supporting talents in honing their skills in the industry to showcase the very best of their work and themselves on the global stage.”
In addition, due to popular demand BAFTA has extended the deadline for the BAFTA Breakthrough India initiative by two weeks, now closing at 4.30pm IST on July 20, 2023.
The eligibility criteria state that applicants must be over 18 years of age at the time of submission, primary residents of India for at least two years, and conversationally fluent in English. With an aim to encourage cross-cultural dialogue in film, games, and television, this programme is looking for candidates who would be willing to collaborate and share their expertise with UK practitioners and (or) produce content for UK audiences. For more information on how to apply visit BAFTA’s supporting talent webpage here.
