Serkis, Frost, Dockery join BAFTA EE Rising Star Award jury panel
December 1, 2021
BAFTA-winner Andy Serkis (War for the Planet of the Apes and Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker), who was honoured at the 2020 EE British Academy Film Awards for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema, joined actresses Sadie Frost (Waiting for Anya) and Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey), alongside a host of other industry experts, to select the EE Rising Star Award shortlist for the 2022 EE British Academy Film Awards.
Now in its seventeenth year, it is the only EE British Academy Film Awards category to be voted for by the British public. Celebrating new and up-and-coming talent within the industry, past recipients of the EE Rising Star Award have gone on to achieve some of cinema’s highest accolades and become household names. The prestigious list of previous winners includes James McAvoy, Eva Green, Juno Temple, Tom Hardy, Kristen Stewart, Jack O’Connell, Will Poulter, John Boyega, Tom Holland, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Micheal Ward, and last year’s winner Bukky Bakray.
Accompanying Andy Serkis, Sadie Frost and Michelle Dockery on the jury panel were an outstanding line-up of industry experts, gathered to debate the merits of the emerging talent longlist. The jury meeting took place at BAFTA’s headquarters 195 Piccadilly that has just experienced a major redevelopment. The winner will be revealed at the ceremony on Sunday 13th March 2022.
Chaired by EMMY-winning and BAFTA-nominated television producer and BAFTA Chair, Krishnendu Majumdar, the panel also included casting directors, Lucy Bevan (Cruella and Belfast), Leo Davis (The Queen and A Very English Scandal), producer Uzma Hasan (FirstBorn) and senior talent agent Ikki El-Amriti (Identity Agency Group). The jury was completed by prominent film, entertainment, and arts journalists.
Andy Serkis said: “I’m thrilled to be a part of the process in selecting this year’s hugely talented candidates, and it’s been incredibly hard to just pick five actors, but I have no doubt I will enjoy watching their performances for a long time to come. It’s been such a challenging time in the film industry but it’s reassuring to know that in its 17th year, the EE Rising Star Award is still just as exciting and more relevant than ever. What’s so wonderful is that EE is empowering film fans to cast their vote, and I can’t wait to see who the recipient for 2022 will be.”
Sadie Frost said: “When I was asked to join this year’s EE Rising Star Award panel, I was delighted. The level of talent within the film industry continues to surprise me so it will be very interesting to see who has made the shortlist. It’s such a fantastic opportunity to put some incredible young talent in the spotlight and I can’t wait to watch these fresh new faces go on to achieve magnificent things.”
Michelle Dockery said: “It’s been a huge honour for me to deliberate alongside the impressive panel of jurors. The industry is bursting with such incredible talent and watching the films over the past few weeks has been such a joy. I’ve really enjoyed getting in the room and discussing the performances with the other jurors and can’t wait to see who will go on to win the public vote.”
EE Rising Star Award jury chair and BAFTA Chair, Krishnendu Majumdar, said: “At BAFTA, supporting and showcasing new talent is integral to everything we do, and the EE Rising Star Award is a fantastic opportunity to put some first class up-and-coming talent in the spotlight. This is the only film award category voted for by the public and I’m delighted to say the calibre of this year’s talent is outstanding. I’m looking forward to revealing the five nominees next year and seeing who will take home the award on March 13th.”
Pete Jeavons, Marketing Communications Director at BT and EE said: “Celebrating its 17th year, the EE Rising Star Award is the only category to be voted for by the British public and remains one of the most talked about accolades at the EE British Academy Film Awards. We are proud to work alongside BAFTA to provide film fans with a voice. Over the years, EE Rising Star Award nominees and winners have achieved enviable industry success and have provided us with some breath-taking performances in some of the world’s most recognisable films.
“There has never been a more important time to celebrate the film industry with the year we have just had. We are as grateful as ever to the panel of experts who have spent hours watching films, debating, discussing and providing their professional opinion on who will go on to be named our 2022 EE Rising Star.”
The EE Rising Star award was created in honour of the late Mary Selway. A highly respected and BAFTA award-winning casting director whose 36-year career saw her work on more than ninety films and work with leading directors such as Steven Spielberg and Clint Eastwood.
Mary’s work contributed to the creation of some of the silver screen’s most memorable characters and in 2001 she received BAFTA’s Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award.
The EE Rising Star Award shortlist will be announced on 1st February 2022, at which point public voting will open and be available to all UK residents at ee.co.uk/BAFTA.
The nominations for the EE British Academy Film Awards will be announced 3rd February 2022, with the ceremony being broadcast on Sunday 13th March 2022 on BBC One.
EE has been a long-standing partner of the BAFTA Film Awards, working to bring film fans closer to the BAFTAs through the magic of technology. Since the partnership began, EE has not only worked with BAFTA to introduce the EE Rising Star Award which is now in its 17th year, but also used its award-winning network to create new and exciting opportunities for film fans to be part of the action on the red carpet.