BAFTA Breakthrough 2021 participants revealed

BAFTA has revealed its breakthrough participants for 2021 from the UK and US, including eight up-and-coming names from the games industry.

The 36 creatives from the fields of film, gaming, and television are to receive professional development and access to global networking opportunities from the organization with support from entertainment company Netflix.

The group was selected by industry professionals from similar creative backgrounds and represents "an incredibly talented and diverse group of future stars," according to BAFTA.

Representatives from games chosen for this year's cohort include:

• Alex Kanaris-Sotiriou, creative director and lead developer at Polygon Treehouse -- the studio behind indie adventure game Röki
• Joanna Haslam, design director at Family Feud and It's Quiz Time developer Snap Finger Click
• Kirsty Elizabeth Gillmore, the freelance voice and casting director that sourced voices for titles such as PlayStation's Destruction AllStars
• Laure De May, a former Ustwo Games programmer who now directs her own games development firm Balloon Studios
• Hunter Schmidt, Mike Grier and Joshua Grier -- better known as Ember Lab, the team behind acclaimed PlayStation and PC action-RPG Kena: Bridge of Spirits
• Elle Osili-Wood, a TV presenter who has been prolific in hosting games broadcasts and presentations for the likes of PlayStation, Xbox and Pokémon, as well as hosting this year's BAFTA Games Awards

As part of BAFTA Breakthrough, each one will receive access to career coaching sessions, global networking opportunities with BAFTA members and past Breakthrough cohorts, one-to-one industry meetings and group roundtable sessions, and more.

BAFTA Breakthrough began last year, and builds on the work the organisation has done with Breakthrough Brits since 2013.