BAFTA on Sunday unveiled the next phase of its plans to put a spotlight on TV programming for children and families with the help of three new categories at its annual BAFTA Television Awards and BAFTA TV Craft Awards.
“Three new categories celebrating children’s television and the talented people who bring the genre to life on-and-off screen will be introduced into next year’s awards,” the British Academy said. “From iconic characters beloved by families around the world, to the developmental and educational theory underpinning high-quality children’s programming, the genre has sparked endless joy and creativity in the hearts and minds of younger audiences.”
The new awards categories are the Children’s Scripted Award for scripted programs, such as drama and comedy, whether live- action or animated; the Children’s Non-Scripted Award for such content as factual, factual entertainment, documentary and news; and the Children’s Craft Team Award honoring the craft teams working in children’s scripted and unscripted programming in behind-the-camera roles. “All three categories will focus on celebrating television for audiences aged 16 and under,” BAFTA said.
The British Academy previously unveiled a new Children and Family Film Award that will launch in next year’s EE BAFTA Film Awards and a Family Award in the BAFTA Games Awards.
“All five categories have been developed in consultation with sector peers and the recently formed cross-industry Young BAFTA Advisory Group, created to steer BAFTA’s year-round programs for children and young people as well as its ongoing support for creatives and practitioners working in the children’s screen industries,” the Academy said.
“Film, games and television hold a magical, unique and vital place in our culture, and the children’s stories made for our screens are so often developed with immense skill, warmth and creativity,” explained BAFTA chair Sara Putt. “The inclusion of five new categories across our internationally renowned awards in film, games and TV will enable us to bring the very best of the screen arts to even wider audiences.”
Added Andrew Miller, chair of the Young BAFTA Advisory Group and BAFTA trustee: “The children’s screen industries leads the way when it comes to diverse and educational storytelling, and it’s an important and essential talent pipeline — with British children’s screen characters beloved by families across the world. Many on and off-screen creatives and practitioners working across the sector owe their careers to children’s media, including me.
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