Bafta sees rise in female and minority ethnic representation among members since 2020

6 December 2024 | Source

Bafta has made significant progress in diversifying its membership since 2020, with 52% of new members identifying as female and 28% from underrepresented ethnic groups. Improvements are also seen in LGBTQIA+ and disability representation. Membership spans over 50 countries, with the highest intake of 800 new members in 2024.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts

Bafta has reported significant strides in increasing the diversity of its membership, based on statistics released on December 5. The figures demonstrate notable progress since the organisation set diversity targets in 2020 as part of the Bafta Review, initiated in response to criticism over all-white acting nominees that year.

Since 2020, the gender split for new members is 52% female to 48% male among respondents who identify as such, compared to an overall membership ratio of 42% female to 58% male. In terms of ethnicity, 28% of new members since 2020 identify as from underrepresented ethnic groups, an increase from the total membership figure of 17%.

Bafta has also made gains in other areas of representation. Among new members, 22% identify as LGBTQIA+ and 13% as having a disability, compared to 14% and 8% respectively of the total membership.

Statistics on socio-economic background were first required in 2023. Since then, 21% of new members have reported coming from low socio-economic backgrounds, slightly above the overall figure of 19%.

These achievements align with Bafta’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive organisation. In 2021, it became mandatory for members to provide demographic details, which revealed at the time that 37.4% of members were women, 12.2% were from minority ethnic groups, 5.3% had a disability, and 9.7% identified as LGBTQIA+.

The organisation now boasts a total membership of 13,500 individuals across film, games, and television, with the film voting body comprising 8,100 members. Bafta also reported its highest number of membership applications ever in 2024, with 800 new full voting members accepted.

Membership spans over 50 countries, with 18% of members based in the US, supported by Bafta’s North America branch.

Looking ahead, the first round of voting for the Bafta Film Awards begins on December 6, with longlists to be revealed on January 3. Nominations will follow on January 15, ahead of the ceremony scheduled for February 16.