Prince William Empowers Next Generation of Filmmakers in Crossover Event

Prince William is supporting two of his patronages in a rare crossover event.

On Wednesday, Oct. 9, the Prince of Wales attended a London event co-hosted by both BAFTA and the Royal African Society that showcased the importance of supporting young people in film, television and games industries.

William, president of BAFTA and patron of the Royal African Society, met with the 2024 recipients of The Prince William BAFTA Bursary fund and students from the National Film and Television School who have received support from The Royal African Society.

The Prince William BAFTA Bursary started in 2021 and assists young people from underrepresented groups to progress their careers in film, television or games through grants. At the event at 195 Piccadilly, William, 42, spoke to recipients working across a range of disciplines, from production assistants and costume designers to writers, game designers and camera and sound trainees to find out how the grant allowed them to accelerate their careers and overcome barriers within the industry, William’s office at Kensington Palace said.

In a speech at the event, William said: “It’s wonderful for me to be here to celebrate the work that BAFTA and the Royal African Society are doing to champion the arts and creativity. The screen arts are such an important part of the fabric of our lives, allowing different voices and perspectives to be accessed and enjoyed in the comfort of our own homes.”

William continued, “As President of BAFTA, I am very proud to be involved with an organization that is dedicated to breaking down barriers for the storytellers of the future…It’s fantastic to have met the latest cohorts today and hear about their ambitions for the future. I look forward to following your careers and seeing you become nominees and winners of BAFTA Awards in years to come!”

Prince William met with students who have been working with the Royal African Society on its upcoming Film Africa festival by helping to curate the festival program and give guidance on the short films that have been selected to represent diverse voices and narratives in African storytelling.

The Prince of Wales also joined in a conversation about the importance of showcasing the creativity of African filmmakers to global audiences.

Film Africa, which runs during Black History Month, is the largest festival for African heritage filmmakers in Europe and marks its eleventh event this year.

The Prince of Wales, who has served as president of BAFTA since 2010, attended the 2024 BAFTAs in February without his wife, Kate Middleton, who was managing health issues privately. In March, Kate announced that she was undergoing chemotherapy following her cancer diagnosis. Just last month, the Princess of Wales shared the news that she has completed her chemotherapy treatment.

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“As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment,” Kate said in an emotional video address. “The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown.