Back in May, we reported that BAFTA had teamed up with new writing forum Rocliffe for a nationwide competition to find emerging comedy writing stars. Their 2012 New Writing Forum winner, Sarah Courtauld, was also the winner of our Comedy Writing Award the same year – so naturally we were excited to see which comedy hopefuls would be recognized by the organization this year too!
The wait is finally over: BAFTA today announced the names of the winning entrants, who will see their scripts showcased on both sides of the pond. The five writing teams selected through the competition will each present their work in front of a host of industry professionals, taking their scripts to either the Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival (GEITF), or the New York Television Festival (NYTVF). We’re especially delighted to see several female comedy writers recognized for their submissions, especially after Sarah’s success last year.
Heading up to Edinburgh is Christiana Brockbank’s script Binwomen, which explores the dynamic between a compulsive hoarder, an inept newcomer and a wannabe ambulance driver, all of whom have ended up clearing bins. Having completed a degree in Film & TV at the University of Warwick and a Masters in Writing for Media at Bournemouth University, Christiana has written scripts for various small projects as well as focusing on her own material. She will be joined by writing team Andrea Hubert and Ryan Cull who, along with their collaboration on winning post-apocalyptic script The Sickness, have found individual success as stand-up comedians and writers.
Although the BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Forum has had two years of success in New York, this year marks their first event at GEITF. The panel of industry professionals giving valuable feedback up in Edinburgh include Shane Allen and John Bishop, and one of the two scripts will receive a fully paid for script commission from the BBC, to be announced during the festival.
The remaining three writing teams will be heading across the pond for BAFTA’s third year at NYTVF, which takes place between 21 – 26th October. Again, female comic talent has been recognized in this branch of the competition, with an all-female writing team heading Stateside with their script. Duo Anna Emerson and Lizzie Bates will be showcasing New Habits, which explores the life of Sister Adie after she leaves her convent for the big city.
Emerson and Bates have worked together since 2006, in part as two-thirds of sketch group The Boom Jennies. Along with being a favourite live act in the Funny Women office, the group have had several successful runs at Edinburgh Fringe, featured in hit BBC Radio 4 show Sketchorama and premiered their debut Radio 4 sitcom Mission Improbable in 2012. A follow-up series is expected in 2014.
Also flying out to New York are writing team Brona C. Titley and Tony Cooke, who’s script Nannies follows five underpaid, overworked childminders as they struggle to parent the next generation of the overly rich. The winning submission impressively marks their first collaboration together, despite a lengthly list of respective comedy credits.
Although four out of the five writing teams this year feature women as the entirety or part of their make-up, the competition has of course also recognized several funny men! Glasgow-based Stewart Thomson’s script Skwibs tells the story of Francis Falkirk, a Scottish medium on a quest to release the spirits of the restless dead. This is not the first time that his work has been recognized by BAFTA – his final project for the National Film and Television School, Bill’s Visitors, was nominated for a BAFTA Scotland Award in 2008, and his first television commission Parliamento Glasgow scored a nomination for a BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award the following year.
The winning scripts were chosen by a panel of judges that included writer/actress Jessica Hynes (Twenty Twelve, Spaced), producer Caryn Mandabach (Nurse Jackie, In with the Flynns), executive producer Tom Anderson (Cheers, My Family), and representatives from all the major UK broadcasters. The panel selected a shortlist of eight submissions from almost 500 entrants over four rounds of voting. The remaining teams – Christian Manley, Mark Clompus and Stephen Keyworth, and Edward Rowett and Robert Frimston – all received a ‘highly commended’ for their scripts, and will receive a free festival pass for GEITF. All unsuccessful entrants will receive feedback on their submissions to develop their writing skills.
Here at Funny Women HQ we’d like to congratulate all the winning submissions and can’t wait to see the next wave of comedy talent hitting our television screens soon. If BAFTA’s work has made you feel inspired to write a script of your own, it’s never too early to start working on a submission for next year – or to enter our Comedy Writing Award, which is still open for entries until 31st August. Get scribbling!
Pictured: BAFTA, Anna Emerson and Lizzie Bates performing alongside Catriona Knox as the Boom Jennies
