Introduction
The British Film Academy was founded in 1947 by David Lean, Alexander Korda, Carol Reed, Laurence Olivier, Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, Roger Manvell and other leading figures in the British film industry. In 1958, the Academy merged with the Guild of Television Producers and Directors to form the Society of Film and Television Arts, which eventually became the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in 1976.
BAFTA is an independent charity with a mission to "support, develop and promote the art forms of the moving image, by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public". In addition to high-profile awards ceremonies BAFTA runs a year-round programme of educational events including film screenings, tribute evenings, interviews, lectures and debates with leading industry figures. BAFTA is supported by a membership of around 6500 people from the film, television and video game industries. BAFTA's main headquarters is on Piccadilly in London, but it also has branches in Scotland, in Wales, in New York and in Los Angeles.
These four branches of the Academy initially operated under their own brands (BAFTA Scotland, BAFTA Cymru, BAFTA East Coast and BAFTA Los Angeles). In July 2010, all branches of the Academy were brought together as one fully affiliated BAFTA.
The Academy's awards are in the form of a theatrical mask designed by American sculptor Mitzi Cunliffe, which was commissioned by the Guild of Television Producers and Directors in 1955. It has since become an internationally-recognised symbol of excellence in the art forms of the moving image.
In November 2007 a special tribute programme was shown on ITV in the UK celebrating 60 years of the organisation called 'Happy Birthday BAFTA'.
The Academy has been associated with the British monarchy since The Duke of Edinburgh became the British Film Academy's first president in the 1940s. The Earl Mountbatten of Burma and The Princess Royal have since held this position, and in 2010 Prince William became the newest Academy president.
Read more about this topic: British Academy Of Film And Television Arts
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