New British talent breaks through

Rising stars BAFTA’s Breakthrough Brits celebrates the work of upand-coming creatives, including ImagineFX artist Anna Hollinrake

BAFTA is challenging the idea that it’s ‘who you know not what you know’ when it comes to carving out a creative career with its annual Breakthrough Brits initiative. The scheme, which showcases and supports the most exciting new voices across film, games and television, has singled out ImagineFX contributor Anna Hollinrake among others as a worthy recipient.

“I feel both honoured and baffled!” says Anna, a games artist at Climax Studios in Portsmouth. “Making art can be a fundamentally solitary experience at times, and even when working in a studio it doesn’t always feel like anyone else ever really sees it outside of your immediate team. Knowing that a panel of accomplished industry veterans saw and enjoyed my work is wonderfully affirming that I’m headed in the right direction.”

As a Breakthrough Brit, Anna can expect to work with BAFTA to develop a bespoke programme of mentoring and career development support. “The whole programme is led by the individual honouree,” explains Claire Stratton, events and legacy producer at BAFTA. “So, in some ways, they get out what they put in!

“Previous Breakthrough Brits have found business partners, met future collaborators, made new friends and forged long-term mentoring relationships through the programme.” In Anna’s case, she wants to build and expand her own IP and talk to a range of developers outside of her normal art sphere.

Fancy yourself as a 2018 Breakthrough Brit? It’s free to enter – you just need to explain why you’ve made an impact over the past 12 months and how the programme could help you progress.

For more information about the scheme and this year’s winners, visit

When Anna heard she was nominated, she was so shocked that she had to lie down on the floor. Anna’s work on VR game Lola and the Giant impressed the judges. Anna is keen to develop a world of pastel witches, which she loves to draw.

The whole group of the Breakthrough Brits recipients covers a wide range of talents.