The parallel journey of BAFTA towards a global profile began when the crossover of American filmmakers active in the UK and British talent working in Hollywood inspired the launch of BAFTA LA in 1987, founded with the support of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. BAFTA’s presence in the US was cemented with the creation in 1990 of BAFTA New York (known for a time as BAFTA East Coast).
Now, the international relationship extends to the Academy’s work in Hong Kong, aimed at helping foster creative collaborations between UK filmmakers and industry professionals in Hong Kong and Asia.
Image: A special commission transformed a Whitbread public house into ‘The BAFTA Arms’ to celebrate the inaugural day of BAFTA North on 9 May 1984. BAFTA North was located in Manchester and active until 2004.
Video: Producer Iain Smith discusses founding BAFTA Scotland in the mid-1980s (Source: BAFTA).