- BAFTA nominated actress Rosamund Pike, joined The Bodyguard actor Richard Madden, actor and BAFTA Breakthrough Brit Ray Panthaki and Film broadcaster Edith Bowman to choose the EE Rising Star Award shortlist for 2019
- Chaired for the first time by co-president of Cornerstone Films, Alison Thompson, the prestigious jury panel also included producer Georgina Lowe (Peterloo) and casting directors Lucy Bevan (Murder on the Orient Express) and Leo Davis (Philomena).
- The shortlist will be announced on Thursday 3rd January 2019 when voting will open to the British public
Thursday 15th November, London: BAFTA nominated actress Rosamund Pike, actor Richard Madden, actor and producer Ray Panthaki and film broadcaster, Edith Bowman, joined the EE Rising Star Award jury to help choose the shortlist for the 2019 award.
Now in its fourteenth year, recipients of the EE Rising Star Award continue to read like a who’s who of the acting world with all past nominees and winners enjoying major box office success. It is the only award at the esteemed ceremony to be voted for by the British public and previous winners include James McAvoy, Eva Green, Juno Temple, Tom Hardy, Kristen Stewart, Noel Clarke, Jack O’Connell, Will Poulter, John Boyega, Tom Holland and last year’s winner, Daniel Kaluuya.
Meeting at BAFTA’s headquarters at 195 Piccadilly, London, the jury debated which five nominees deserve to go head to head and face the public vote ahead of the 2019 EE British Academy Film Awards. The shortlist will be announced on Thursday 3rd January and the winner will be revealed at the ceremony on Sunday 10th February.
Sitting alongside Rosamund Pike and Richard Madden on the jury panel at 195 Piccadilly were an outstanding line-up of industry experts gathered to discuss the longlist of emerging talent. The jury was chaired by Alison Thompson, Co-President of Cornerstone Films. It also included Lucy Bevan, industry-leading casting director for Murder on the Orient Express, Cinderella and Pirates of the Caribbean; Leo Davis, renowned casting director for The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas, Layer Cake and The Constant Gardener; and Georgina Lowe, acclaimed producer for Peterloo, Happy-Go-Lucky and Another Year. The jury was completed by prominent film and arts journalists including broadcaster Edith Bowman and film critic Anna Smith.
Rosamund Pike said: “To be asked to join this year’s EE Rising Star Award panel is an exciting honour. It’s been fascinating watching the breadth of talent in an incredible array of films. Making the shortlist decision won’t be easy as the calibre of the acting is so high but I’m looking forward to discussing and deliberating with my fellow jurors, to ensure we have the best possible shortlist for the public vote.”
Richard Madden said: “I was thrilled when I received the call inviting me to be a part of the decision making on this year’s EE Rising Star Award panel. It’s a very important category and it’s been exciting to watch these actors and actresses shine in their different parts. Today is going to be very interesting as we sit down to discuss who we each think deserves a nomination.”
Ray Panthaki said: “It feels very special to be here today and sit on the jury panel for the EE Rising Star Award. Having been mentored through the BAFTA Breakthrough Brits programme myself in 2014, I fully appreciate the many platforms that BAFTA strives to offer emerging talent. What I love about this particular award is that it is the public who have the final say”.
Edith Bowman said: “It’s an honour to be asked back again to join the jury panel for the EE Rising Star Award. Every year the list of talent just seems to get stronger and stronger. What I especially love about this award is how it gives the public the opportunity to have their say in such an important category”
Pete Jeavons, Director of Brand Marketing at EE, said: “The EE Rising Star Award continues to be an incredibly important part of our long-standing relationship with BAFTA. This is the only award that allows the British public to have a say in the proceedings, and we are proud to work with BAFTA in providing film fans with a voice. Many of our EE Rising Star nominees have gone on to achieve incredible success in some of the world’s most recognised films. We are grateful as ever to our panel of experts who have all spent months watching countless films with their expert eyes on who will go on to capture the imagination of the British public.”
EE Rising Star Award jury chair, Alison Thompson, said: “The EE Rising Star Award is a high-profile award that shines a light on up and coming talent and their craft. We have a tough job ahead of us as there is some extraordinary actors and actresses in the mix this year”.
The award was created in honour of the late Mary Selway. A highly respected, BAFTA award-winning casting director, whose career spanned three decades and more than ninety films. She worked with notable directors such as Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood and Ridley Scott, contributing to the creation of some of the silver screen’s most memorable characters.
The EE Rising Star nominees will be announced on Thursday 3rd January, at which point public voting will open and be available to all UK residents.
For more information visit: ee.co.uk/BAFTA
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Source: EE Newsroom
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