International reporter
BAFTA Film Awards adds new category for children and families, introduces points system for outstanding performance
A new Family Film Award and expanded theatre requirements for the Best Film Prize are among the major changes to BAFTA’s entry criteria announced today. Scroll down for the full changes.
The Children's and Family Film Award is open to films of any genre with what BAFTA has described as "specific intergenerational appeal to children, young people and adults." Films with a U, PG or 12A certificate are eligible. This is the first new award to be added to the BAFTA Film Awards in five years. BAFTA's Emma Baehr and Deirdre Hopkins, who spoke to us this morning ahead of the announcement, said that similar family-focused awards will be added to BAFTA's TV awards in the near future.
Elsewhere, BAFTA has significantly increased the minimum number of theatrical screenings required for the Best Film award. Eligible films must now have their theatrical release on at least 50 commercial screens in the UK over at least seven days – the equivalent of at least 350 screenings. Previously, BAFTA required ten screenings per day over seven days to be eligible.
