Prince William Empowers Next Generation of Filmmakers in Special Crossover Event

Mar. 15, 2025

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

At the visit, Prince William, 42, spoke about the importance of “young people from all backgrounds” being able to “see themselves reflected on screen” in a speech delivered at the engagement. He added, “Opening the door to the creative industries to as many young and talented individuals as possible also includes working to ensure that young people are exposed to as wide a variety of voices and narratives as possible, as early as possible.”

The Prince of Wales also said that it was “crucial” that people from all backgrounds were offered the chance to pursue creative careers and to bring their stories to life.

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William,president of BAFTAand 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 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 his remarks 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!”

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 hascompleted 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.”

source: people.com