Women Make Up Two-Thirds of the 2026 BAFTA Student Awards Finalist Teams

Summary

• Fifteen finalist projects were selected from entries submitted by more than 600 universities.
• Women account for 21 of the 31 listed student creators.
• The projects represent seven countries and five competition categories.
• Experience Week will take place in Los Angeles from July 13 to July 16.
• The winners will be announced on July 17 during the ceremony’s first livestream.

Women account for 21 of the 31 listed team members behind the 15 finalist projects at the 2026 BAFTA Student Awards, representing roughly two-thirds of the total.

BAFTA announced the 15 projects advancing to the final stage of the international competition on June 22. They were selected by BAFTA members from entries submitted by more than 600 universities worldwide across film, games and immersive storytelling.

The composition of the shortlist is significant because it combines strong female representation, projects from seven countries and the first appearance of four educational institutions. Finalists will also gain access to studios, professional workshops and industry networking opportunities in Los Angeles.

An international shortlist with four first-time schools

The 15 finalist projects come from France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Belgium, Spain, China and Germany.

The University of Edinburgh, Beijing Film Academy, Escola Superior de Cinema i Audiovisuals de Catalunya and Institut National Supérieur des Arts du Spectacle et des Techniques de Diffusion are represented for the first time.

The selection includes three projects in each of the five main categories: animation, documentary, live action, games and immersive experiences.

Women account for roughly two-thirds

Of the 31 students and creators listed as members of the finalist teams, 21 are women. That represents almost 68% of the total and is one of the defining features of this year’s selection.

The figure carries additional weight in games and interactive storytelling, fields in which women and non-binary people have historically faced limited access, visibility and resources.

The 15 finalists by category

Animation, presented by Crunchyroll

Gauze — Noran Fikri Alezabi, Nicholas Arujah, Xinyue Ma, Yulin Yue and Xiaonan Zhou, Gobelins, France.

Susurros — Marie Lombard, Lisa Francillon, Alice Parmentier, Alexandra Pewinski, Emma Pluchard and Florian Reignier, Supinfocom Rubika, France.

The day I licked a pebble — Goli Atefi, Chloé Bernuchon, Flavie Eliézer, Nathan Jauze, Maud Kolasa and Marie Pijollet, École MoPA, France.

Documentary

66 Days — Joude Bazzoun, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Strangers on Our Land — Zane Karram and Kelsey Oliver, University of California, Berkeley, United States.

Talk Straight, Duda — Eduardo Maia, University of Southern California, United States.

Live action

Children of yesterday — Clara Diet Cordy, Institut National Supérieur des Arts du Spectacle et des Techniques de Diffusion, Belgium.

Rage — Fran Moreno Blanco and Santi Pujol Amat, Escola Superior de Cinema i Audiovisuals de Catalunya, Spain.

Whispers of the Waves — Patricia Xu, Beijing Film Academy, China.

Games

Candellum — Eva Martinello and Mattéo Gomez, Isart Digital, France.

Kiloton — Jack Morehart, New York University, United States.

The Wind and the Wisp — Sammy Chuang, University of Southern California, United States.

Immersive

Lichtung — Aria Wolf, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

Room — Leyi Zhou, University of the Arts London, United Kingdom.

Sonderambla — Tomis Fras, University of the Arts London, United Kingdom.

Experience Week and the first BAFTA Games Summit

BAFTA will bring the finalists to Los Angeles for Experience Week, running from Monday, July 13 through Thursday, July 16, 2026.

The programme includes visits to film and game studios, workshops with industry professionals and networking events. Its purpose is to introduce emerging creators to different career routes and give them opportunities to establish professional contacts.

The inaugural BAFTA Games Summit will take place at e.l.f.’s Los Angeles office on July 15. It will be livestreamed at 3 p.m. Pacific Time through the elfyou Twitch channel.

Two panels will focus on games careers, storytelling, community building and audience engagement. Speakers will include Mayanna Berrin, Anjali Bhimani, Crystal Mora, Erika Ewing, Jay-Ann Lopez and Kathryn Yu, with Elle Osili Wood serving as moderator.

A Showcase and Mixer will follow, giving attendees an opportunity to play and experience the nominated games and immersive projects.

First livestream and a $15,000 grant

The awards ceremony will be livestreamed for the first time on July 17 through the elfyou Twitch channel, expanding the potential international audience for the projects and winners.

e.l.f. will also provide a $15,000 grant to support an emerging female or non-binary developer working in games.

BAFTA programme alumni, BAFTA members and creators associated with peer organisations are expected to be invited to apply and present their projects for consideration. A detailed application schedule will be announced at a later date.

The initiative is intended to increase funding, visibility and presentation opportunities for creators who remain underrepresented in the games industry.

The ceremony, host and Special Jury

The winners will be announced on Friday, July 17, 2026, at the Meryl Streep Center for Performing Artists at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.

The ceremony will be hosted by Elle Osili Wood, a presenter, BAFTA Breakthrough talent and broadcaster whose work has included projects with the BBC, ITV and BAFTA.

The Special Jury will choose the recipient of “The Albert R. ‘Cubby’ Broccoli Special Jury Prize at the BAFTA Student Awards.” Its members are actor and writer Joel Kim Booster, EON Productions creative director Heather Callow, composer Laura Karpman, documentary filmmaker Smriti Mundhra and actor and comedian Nico Santos.

e.l.f. Cosmetics is the headline partner, with additional support from Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic, the Dana and Albert R. Broccoli Charitable Foundation and Crunchyroll.

The role of the BAFTA Student Awards

The Student Awards form part of BAFTA North America’s year-round Learning, Inclusion and Talent programmes and operate as an international platform for emerging creators working in film, games and interactive storytelling.

BAFTA supports its awards with educational and career initiatives including masterclasses, lectures, scholarships, bursaries and mentoring programmes in the United Kingdom and North America.

BAFTA North America executive director Courtney LaBarge Bell described the awards as a launchpad for the next generation, highlighting the value of access to professionals, peers and career-building opportunities. Patrick O’Keefe of e.l.f. said the partnership is intended to turn recognition into practical routes for access, connection and exposure.

What we think

pttl’s view is that the importance of this year’s selection extends beyond increased female representation. The combination of workshops, professional networking, public project showcases and direct financial support is equally significant, because it can turn student recognition into a genuine starting point for a professional career.

Frequently asked questions

When will the winners be announced?

The winners of the 2026 BAFTA Student Awards will be announced on Friday, July 17, at the Meryl Streep Center for Performing Artists at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.

How many projects and creators are on the shortlist?

The shortlist contains 15 projects and 31 listed creators. Women account for 21 of those creators.

What are the competition categories?

The five main categories are animation, documentary, live action, games and immersive experiences. A separate Special Jury Prize will also be presented.

What is Experience Week?

It is a four-day programme in Los Angeles, running from July 13 to July 16, with studio visits, professional workshops, meetings and networking events.

What does the $15,000 grant provide?

The grant will support an emerging female or non-binary game developer. Additional details about eligibility, applications and timing will be announced later.