Today, EE and BAFTA hosted this year’s prestigious EE Rising Star Award jury meeting, bringing together acclaimed actors Joe Alwyn, Sheila Atim & Bendict Wong and industry experts Raine Allen Miller and Aisha Bywaters to determine the nominees for the 2026 EE Rising Star Award, the only EE BAFTA Film Awards category to be voted for by the British public.
EE and BAFTA share a commitment to championing the next generation of creative talent. Through initiatives like the EE Rising Star Award and ‘Set The Stage’, EE is helping young people and families access the arts and turn their passions into careers.
Now in its second decade, the EE Rising Star Award boasts previous winners including Mia McKenna-Bruce, Lashana Lynch, Bukky Bakray, Micheal Ward, Letitia Wright, James McAvoy, Daniel Kaluuya, John Boyega, Tom Hardy, Emma Mackey and last year’s winner David Jonsson.
This year, EE is also making it easier than ever for the public to get involved, with voting available via ee.co.uk/BAFTA, WhatsApp and social media – culminating in the winner’s reveal at the EE BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday 22nd February 2026.
- Joe Alwyn (The Brutalist, Kinds of Kindness, Conversations with Friends), Sheila Atim (Blade Runner 2099, Dust Bunny, All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt) and Benedict Wong (Weapons, 3 Body Problem, Doctor Strange) joined a distinguished line-up of industry experts at The Savoy to select the EE Rising Star Award nominees ahead of the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards
- BAFTA Film Committee member, Anna Higgs, chaired the esteemed jury, that also included director Raine Allen Miller (Rye Lane, The Roots Manoeuvre) and casting director Aisha Bywaters (Dreamers, We Are Lady Parts, The Last Tree)
- Now in its twenty-first year, the EE Rising Star Award has honoured previous winners including David Jonsson, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Lashana Lynch, Letitia Wright, James McAvoy, Eva Green, Daniel Kaluuya, Kristen Stewart, Tom Hardy and Emma Mackey
- The nominations will be announced on 14 January 2026 when voting will open to the British public. Voting will be across ee.co.uk/BAFTA, WhatsApp and EE socials, with the 2026 winner being announced at the EE BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday 22 February 2026
- The EE Rising Star Award is the only EE BAFTA Film Awards category to be voted for by the British public, reinforcing EE’s commitment to using the power of the EE network to bring film and emerging talent to audiences across the UK
Tuesday 11 November, London: Award-winning actors Joe Alwyn (The Brutalist, Kinds of Kindness, Conversations with Friends), Sheila Atim (Blade Runner 2099, Dust Bunny, All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt) and Benedict Wong (Weapons, 3 Body Problem, Doctor Strange), alongside a host of industry experts, gathered today to select the five EE Rising Star Award nominees ahead of the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards.
Celebrating twenty-one years of excellence, the EE Rising Star Award is the only EE BAFTA Film Awards category to be voted for by the British public. This reinforces EE’s commitment to using the power of the EE network to bring film and emerging talent to audiences across the UK, as well as giving the nation the chance to have their say in choosing the next recipient of the prestigious award.
Opening doors across the film industry for up-and-coming talent, past recipients of the EE Rising Star Award have gone on to achieve some of cinema’s highest accolades and become household names. Previous winners include Mia McKenna-Bruce, Lashana Lynch, Letitia Wright, James McAvoy, Eva Green, Daniel Kaluuya, Kristen Stewart, Tom Hardy, Emma Mackey and, most recently, David Jonsson who received the award at the 2025 EE BAFTA Film Awards.
Presided over by Anna Higgs, BAFTA Film Committee member, the panel also included acclaimed director Raine Allen Miller (Rye Lane, The Roots Manoeuvre) and casting director Aisha Bywaters (Dreamers, We Are Lady Parts, The Last Tree), who gathered at The Savoy, the official hotel partner for the EE BAFTA Film Awards, to debate the longlist and select the final five nominees.
And this year EE is doing more to get the nation closer to the red-carpet action by making voting easier than ever; via website, WhatsApp and EE socials.
Following public voting, the winner will be revealed at the ceremony on Sunday 22 February 2026.
Joe Alwyn said: “It’s such a privilege to be part of the EE Rising Star Award jury this year. It’s been an impressive year for film and television, and the level of talent out there today is truly inspiring. I know firsthand how transformative this kind of recognition can be and it’s exciting to celebrate these emerging voices who are shaping the future of the industry.”
Sheila Atim said: “As artists, we’re constantly evolving – taking risks, learning and finding our voices through our work. What I love about the EE Rising Star Award is that it recognises the journey, not just a single milestone. It’s not just a celebration of career achievement, but of potential, creative courage and all the work still ahead.”
Benedict Wong said: “The EE Rising Star Award is such an important accolade for the talent in front of the camera, but it was also an honor to work alongside a jury that reflects the diverse range of talent that exists behind the scenes too. Collaboration is at the heart of our industry, and it was a joy to convene around the jury table today and work alongside BAFTA and EE to support the future of our craft.”
EE and BAFTA have a shared ambition to champion the rising stars of the future. Through its partnership with BAFTA, EE is doing more to shine a spotlight on the next generation. From the EE Rising Star Award, which celebrates emerging talent, to ‘Set The Stage’, which gives young people hands-on access to the creative industries, EE is helping families and future creatives explore their passions and help them become a reality.
EE Rising Star Award jury chair and member of the BAFTA Film Committee, Anna Higgs, said: “BAFTA’s mission is to celebrate, support and inspire exceptional talent at every stage of their careers. The EE Rising Star Award embodies that spirit, shining a light on the next generation of trailblazing performers. We’re proud to continue our long-standing partnership with EE, who share our commitment to championing emerging artists and innovators. The stars shortlisted this year are an extraordinary group whose work has already made a remarkable impact on audiences, and we can’t wait to see them continue to shine for years to come.”
Kelly Engstrom, Brand & Marketing Communications Director – EE and Plusnet, said: “Year after year BAFTA continues to be a fantastic partner in celebrating emerging talent and we’re thrilled to continue this relationship through the EE Rising Star Award. It’s not just our goal to applaud the amazing talent driving the future of this industry, but also to supercharge the passions of those voting and tuning into the ceremony from home. With the power of the EE network this year voting will be easier than ever before, as we aim to provide young people everywhere with real opportunities, real access, and real inspiration.”
The EE Rising Star Award was created in honour of the late Mary Selway. A highly respected and BAFTA award-winning casting director whose 36-year career saw her work on more than ninety films and work with leading directors such as Steven Spielberg and Clint Eastwood. Mary’s work contributed to the creation of some of the silver screen’s most memorable characters and in 2001 she received BAFTA’s Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award.
The EE Rising Star Award nominations will be announced on 14 January 2026, when public voting opens for all UK residents at ee.co.uk/BAFTA, via WhatsApp and across socials.
BAFTA will announce all nominations for the EE BAFTA Film Awards on 27 January 2026. The winners will be announced at the ceremony in London on 22 February 2026.
EE has been a long-standing partner of the EE BAFTA Film Awards, working to bring film fans closer to the BAFTAs through the magic of technology and consumer participation. Since the partnership began, EE has not only worked with BAFTA to introduce the EE Rising Star Award, which is now in its twenty-first year, but also used its award-winning network to create new and exciting opportunities for film fans to be part of the action on the red carpet.
For more information visit: ee.co.uk/BAFTA #EERisingStar #EEBAFTAs
