BAFTA Scholarship Winners Named

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts named 21 students in financial need who will receive scholarships to study in the U.K. or U.S. through BAFTA scholarship programs. The BAFTA Scholars will also be mentored by BAFTA members, award winners and nominees, and be given free access to BAFTA events.

BAFTA Los Angeles will provide financial support and mentorship to U.K. students studying in the U.S. This year's recipients are Iesh Thapar studying at Columbia University, Catherine Taylor at American Film Institute, Andrew Duncan Visser at Columbia University, Samuel Icklow at University of California Los Angeles and William Stefan Smith from Tisch School of the Arts, who receives the Nigel Lythgoe Television Scholarship for a second year.

BAFTA New York, which supports undergraduate and graduate students pursuing media studies at institutions located within the New York City area, will award seven scholarships with the support of New York based businesses. This year’s winners are: Lin Que Ayoung studying at Hunter College (A+E Networks); Camille Brown pursuing a graduate degree at Brooklyn College (BBC America); Lucien Follini-Press studying a graduate degree at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts (HBO); Stephen Lorusso for a graduate degree at Brooklyn College (DreamWorks Animation); Melissa Rodriguez pursuing a graduate degree at Brooklyn College (Walkers Shortbread); John Sowulski pursuing a graduate degree at Brooklyn College (DLT Entertainment) and Tina Zarbaliev studying at Hunter College (BAFTA New York in honour of Don & Eleanor Taffner).

Linda Kahn, co-chair of BAFTA New York Outreach Committee, said in a release: "It is thrilling to see the growth in the BAFTA New York scholarship program. Significantly, this is our third year and we have more scholarships, sponsors and universities than ever before. Sponsored by A+E Networks, BBC America, DLT Entertainment, DreamWorks Animation, HBO and Walkers Shortbread, the BAFTA New York scholarships focus on media studies in TV and film. The scholarships, which are based on merit and need, include graduate students from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and Brooklyn College as well as undergraduates from Hunter College. We are excited to extend the program to these outstanding students and to provide them with mentoring opportunities."

A full list of the scholarship recipients, including course details, is available at this link.