BAFTA formally announces Sara Putt as new president

The British Academy has presented Sara Putt as its newly elected president.

Behind the Sara Putt Associates film and television agency for behind-the-camera talent and a respected agent, producer, executive producer and consultant in TV, Putt has been a vice president since 2021 and has been involved in BAFTA business for over a decade. She also sits on the advisory board of the British Film Commission and the board of The Film & TV Charity and was previously on the board of Women in Film and TV.

Putt takes over from Krishnendu Majumdar, whose three-year term as chairman ended at Monday’s annual general meeting.

“I am deeply honored to succeed Krishnendu Majumdar as president of BAFTA,” she said. “During his tenure, the BAFTAs have seen growth and transition. Krish led the groundbreaking 2020 review with integrity, determination and openness, and as a result BAFTA has evolved as an arts academy and charity.

Putt added that she intended to “continue to listen to our members, our stakeholders and our many beneficiaries” and would use her experience as an agent to “lead the work BAFTAs do to positively impact the careers of those we support.” .

Like Majumdar, Putt will serve as president for three years, with a deputy to be appointed in due course.

In his final message to members, Majumdar proudly noted the “seismic changes” BAFTA had made during his tenure, including reopening its London HQ following its redevelopment, expanding its membership, training of BAFTA North America and the hiring of Jane Millichip, its first new CEO in nearly 25 years.

However, he said he was “perhaps very proud” of the extensive overhaul that took place in 2020 and was launched in response to that year’s film nominations which were heavily criticized for their lack of diversity. The review resulted in around 120 changes to campaigning, voting and membership of the BAFTA Awards.

“More importantly, it marked a culture shift at BAFTA, from passive to proactive and progressive in tackling inequality,” added Majumdar. “I believe we have responded to the lack of diversity in the 2020 film awards nominations in a sincere and constructive way. Those tough sessions with contributors that informed the review within our membership and across the industry were a watershed. We’ve embraced the review’s advice and are starting to see the impact. Rather than a tick-box exercise, it reflected a long overdue shift in our industries to address all forms of under-representation and has helped level the playing field so that all talent and all histories are seen and recognized on an equal footing. to the credit in the same way.