Some of Britain’s best actors, producers and directors were among the guests who stepped onto the red carpet, at Old Billingsgate, London, on Wednesday June 18, 2014, to celebrate and support diversity in the film and television industry, at the NFTS‘Great British Film, Television and Games Event – Striving for Diversity Nirvana’ gala, sponsored by Ingenious and Microsoft.
Baroness Floella Benjamin, OBE, who Chaired the Gala, gave an impassioned speech to the 600 strong gathering that included Baroness Doreen Lawrence, CBE, Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham, Director), Rochelle Humes (singer in The Saturdays), Stephen K. Amos (British Comedian), Adrian Lester, OBE (British Actor), Lolita Chakrabarti (Actress and Playwright), Nitin Ganatra (Kenyan born British actor - Eastenders), Jamelia (singer), Ade Adepitan MBE (Paralympic medalist and TV presenter), E.L James (’50 Shades of Grey’ author), Duncan Kenworthy, OBE (Producer).
Baroness Benjamin read out a letter of support from HRH The Prince of Wales, which said: “I am delighted at the long standing commitment the NFTS has made to training of the highest standard. I am very conscious of the generous help that is provided to ensure that the courses you offer are available to those of the greatest potential talent whatever their means.
“Any successful industry is only as good as the people within it and its future success depends on the quality of those whom it attracts to join the profession now.”
The NFTS Gala also had the support of the Prime Minister David Cameron, the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband and Sajid Javid MP, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who told the Gala guests: “We are here not only to celebrate diversity in the industry but also to recognise that more needs to be done not just in developing new talent from BME backgrounds but also in promoting diversity across the whole industry.”
Sajid Javid added that young people need to be inspired by what they see on screen and said: “Role models are incredibly important for all young people but perhaps doubly so for someone from a BME background looking to get into the arts. They make the impossible seem possible.
“Kids need to see people they identify with at the top and making it on their own terms. Role models help draw a line between where you are and where you want to be. It’s vital that film and television is truly open to all people from all backgrounds, something that the NFTS and Government is working on together to make a reality.”
Comedian and actor Lenny Henry entertained the audience while driving home the serious message that enforcing BAME quotas on broadcasters was the way forward: “The fact is, television is full of quotas. The BBC has a quota that 25% of all its programmes should be produced by independent companies. There are quotas for how much children’s television they produce. Isn’t reflecting Britain’s diverse communities just as important to the social fabric of our society as children’s TV? I want the same breaks as Peppa Pig, dammit!”
Henry spoke about the importance of capturing the experiences of black people in news and documentary as well as in TV entertainment shows such as The Real McCoy or Goodness Gracious Me.
“So if television and film form a major part of our national memory, then we have a responsibility to document today’s stories for the historians of tomorrow. And it is essential that there is diversity in the media both in front of and behind the camera.
“It’s within your power to change things in this industry. And this goes for all of you, whether you’re an NFTS student, casting director, a lighting cameraman, an agent or a Director General – I urge you from this day forward -whatever you do –whether it’s the stories you’re telling or the people you’re employing –have diversity at the forefront of your mind...”
“There is a wealth of talent to be tapped. There are writers, producers, executive producers, directors, script editors, skilled technicians who just want to work. That is something to be celebrated. That is why the NFTS is important.”
The school already provides £650,000 a year in scholarships to UK students and the Toledo Scholarship, established by Producer Duncan Kenworthy (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill) has awarded £150,000 to enable talented newcomers from the UK’s ethnic minorities to fast-track their ambitions and join the British film industry.
View our gallery of this and previous NFTS galas below:
NFTS Gala photos 2014 by Roy Morris Photography.
