Bectu hails BAFTA diversity measures as first step but impact still to be tested

Bectu has given a qualified welcome to new BAFTA measures designed to increase the diversity of its membership and create a more level playing field at its annual film awards.

The new voting, membership and campaigning processes have been announced today after a seven-month review.

Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said: “We welcome the practical steps outlined by BAFTA today to increase diversity across film. But there is still a long way to go and the proof of the pudding will be in the eating.

“We will see at the 2021 awards whether the measures announced in this review will be enough to make a meaningful difference.

“We are committed to working with our industry partners to deliver the positive change that is so deeply needed and so long overdue. We hope today’s practical steps will make a difference.

“But we will be continuing to push for our own wide-reaching proposed reforms of the industry which focus on what happens behind the camera as well as on screen.

“We are pleased that BAFTA has agreed to meet Bectu in future for separate talks about the craft awards.”

Childs added that Bectu is aware that British Film Institute standards will still be relevant in the British Film Category of BAFTA awards. “We will be talking to the BFI about strengthening their standards,” she said.

In January this year Bectu raised grave concerns about the failure of BAFTA to nominate a diverse set of recipients for this year’s awards, with no BAME actors nominated and for the seventh year in a row no women nominated in the best director category.

The union proposed its own diversity agreement for industry bodies to adopt, aimed at bringing about substantial change in the film industry, not only in front of the camera but behind the scenes.

• The full review report is available on the Bafta website.