BAFTA Broadens International TV Award Voting to Include All Members for 2026
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced significant changes to its International category for the 2026 television awards. In a move aimed at increasing member engagement and promoting inclusivity, all 6,000 BAFTA television voting members will now determine the nominations and winners for the International category [1][3][4][5].
This shift marks a departure from the previous system where a select jury controlled the final voting after an initial shortlist by members. By opening the voting to the entire membership, BAFTA aims to strengthen the category and ensure the very best international programs get the recognition they deserve [1][3][4].
To reflect the reality of global co-productions, BAFTA has introduced an exemption clause allowing one non-UK senior team member in submissions if at least 80% of the production team qualifies as UK-eligible [5].
The rule change could lead to more democratic and potentially unpredictable outcomes in the International category, reflecting diverse member views rather than a limited jury panel, and emphasising BAFTA’s commitment to honouring global television excellence [3][5].
In other news, Sony SAB is launching the Indian adaptation of the acclaimed series "Shameless," titled "Itti Si Khushi," premiering Aug. 18. The drama, set in Mumbai, follows 21-year-old Anvita, the eldest of six siblings, anchoring her dysfunctional family. Varun Badola, Sumbul Touqeer, and Rajat Verma are among the cast members, with Rajesh Mapuskar serving as a creative force [6].
Yash Raj Films' "Saiyaara" has grossed INR507 crore ($59 million) worldwide, making it the highest-grossing love story in Indian cinema history. The film, produced by YRF CEO Akshaye Widhani, proves romance remains a bankable genre in Bollywood [7].
Meanwhile, the nonprofit organization Womanity has partnered with Saudi Arabia's Righters House to launch She Shoots, a two-week intensive workshop for emerging female filmmakers in Jeddah. The workshop, led by acclaimed screenwriter Rulan Hasan, covers camera, sound, lighting, production design, and focuses on gender equality for 2026 festival distribution. It is part of Womanity's Disruptive Media program supporting female storytellers across MENA [8].
The BAFTA Television Craft Awards will take place on April 26, 2026, followed by the main ceremony on May 10, 2026. Entries for the awards are now open, and the BAFTA Television Craft Awards eligibility for co-productions has been adjusted, allowing one non-U.K. senior team member if 80% remain U.K.-eligible [2].
Last year's BAFTA ceremony drew 2.5 million viewers on BBC One and iPlayer [9].
[1] - https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/bafta-television-awards-2026-to-be-determined-by-all-tv-voting-members [2] - https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/bafta-television-craft-awards-2026-open-for-entries [3] - https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/bafta-television-awards-2026-to-be-determined-by-all-tv-voting-members [4] - https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/mar/02/bafta-to-open-up-international-television-nominations-to-all-members [5] - https://www.screendaily.com/news/bafta-changes-international-category-voting-rules-for-2026-awards/5174199.article [6] - https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/hindi/ittti-si-khushi-cast-varun-badola-sumbul-touqeer-rajat-verma-rajesh-mapuskar-sanjay-mishra-anupam-kher-1823671 [7] - https://www.india.com/lifestyle/bollywood/saiyaara-becomes-highest-grossing-love-story-in-indian-cinema-history-1802235/ [8] - https://www.arabnews.com/node/1909186/media [9] - https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/bafta-television-awards-2022-draws-record-25m-audience/10041779.article
Movies-and-TV and entertainment are intertwined, as evidenced by Sony SAB's launch of the Indian adaptation of "Shameless," titled "Itti Si Khushi," which is a drama that falls under entertainment and will likely be considered for this year's BAFTA Television Awards, opening up the International category to include further global TV entertainment. The changes in the International category also reflect BAFTA's commitment to celebrating diverse entertainment from around the world.
