One of the brightest stars in the British film industry’s sky is the work done by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. The reach of BAFTA’s influence and importance to those who are looking to make it in their chosen industry is unparalleled in this country. Tomorrow they extend a helping hand to those artists they have rigorously selected from thousands of applicants.

As well as the EE Rising Star Award given out each year to a person whose early career is notably in the ascendant, the Burberry-sponsored Breakthrough Brits is another such important initiative. Making the most of their remit of encouraging and nurturing new talent in the field of films, television or games the BAFTA Breakthrough Brits is the place to find the next big thing.

Tomorrow the list of this year’s Breakthrough Brits will be announced, and we’ll have details of the event including interviews with the winners. This begins our coverage of the 2016 initiative which will include conversations with previous winners as well as a conversation with BAFTA about the work it does with new talent.

Today one of the 2015 Breakthrough Brits cohort took part in a Twitter Q&A about his early career, his most challenging role and what he looks for when choosing a part. Alex Lawther came to prominence with his sensitive portrayal of the young Alan Turing in Morten Tyldum’s The Imitation Game. He will soon be revisiting the biopic genre with his work as Christopher Robin in Simon Curtis’s as-yet-untitled A. A. Milne project.

We recently spoke to Alex on the red carpet for the London Film Festival premiere of season three of Black Mirror. Here’s what he had to say about working on the return of one of the most anticipated TV shows this year.

Clearly the world of film and television is taking notice of Lawther, and his status as a Breakthrough Brit will only have helped him on his way to bigger things.

Keen to share his knowledge and experience today’s Twitter Q&A was a great insight into what can seem to many a closed off world. He answered questions from the public about his life as an actor, and working on critically acclaimed projects such as Black Mirror and The Imitation Game.

Here are the highlights of the Q&A, and we’ll be keeping an eye on Lawther as his career progress.

https://twitter.com/BAFTA/status/790508179864031232

Here’s our interview with Lawther and his Black Mirror co-star Jerome Flynn.

https://twitter.com/BAFTA/status/790509942725828608

https://twitter.com/BAFTA/status/790511222953312256

 

https://twitter.com/BAFTA/status/790513621461823488

Check back tomorrow for the announcement of 2016’s Breakthrough Brits and follow BAFTA on Twitter @BAFTA.