The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards are one of the most coveted and respected honors in the entertainment industry. The annual ceremony celebrates the best of British and international talent in film, television, and games. The BAFTA Awards 2024 are set to take place on Sunday, February 18, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, with Graham Norton returning as the host. But how did the BAFTA Awards start and what are some of the memorable moments from its history? Here is a brief overview of the origins and evolution of the BAFTA Awards.

The Beginning: The British Film Academy

The BAFTA Awards can trace their roots back to 1947, when a group of film industry professionals, led by director David Lean, founded the British Film Academy. The aim of the academy was to promote and support the art of film making in Britain and abroad. The first awards ceremony was held in 1949, at the Odeon Cinema in Leicester Square, London. The awards were divided into two categories: British and Foreign. The first winners included Laurence Olivier for Hamlet, Carol Reed for The Fallen Idol, and Vittorio De Sica for Bicycle Thieves.

The Merger: The Society of Film and Television Arts

In 1958, the British Film Academy merged with the Guild of Television Producers and Directors, which was founded in 1953, to form the Society of Film and Television Arts (SFTA). The new organization expanded its scope to include television as well as film, and held its first joint awards ceremony in 1959. The awards were now presented in three categories: Film, Television, and United Nations. The first winners included Ben-Hur, Hancock’s Half Hour, and The Diary of Anne Frank.

The Name Change: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts

In 1976, the SFTA changed its name to the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), to reflect its status as a leading authority in the fields of film and television. The awards ceremony also moved to a larger venue, the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London. The awards were now presented in four categories: Film, Television, Film and Television Craft, and Special Awards. The first winners under the new name included One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Fawlty Towers, and Stanley Kubrick.

The Expansion: The BAFTA Games Awards and the BAFTA Scotland Awards

In 1998, BAFTA launched the BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards, to recognize the achievements in the emerging field of interactive media. The awards were later renamed as the BAFTA Games Awards in 2003, and became a separate ceremony from the film and television awards. The first winners of the BAFTA Games Awards included GoldenEye 007, Tomb Raider, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

In 1999, BAFTA established the BAFTA Scotland Awards, to celebrate the best of Scottish film, television, and games. The awards were held in Glasgow, and were open to productions made in Scotland or by Scottish talent. The first winners of the BAFTA Scotland Awards included My Name Is Joe, Still Game, and Grand Theft Auto.

The Present: The BAFTA Awards 2024

The BAFTA Awards have come a long way since their inception, and have become a prestigious and influential platform for recognizing and rewarding excellence in film, television, and games. The BAFTA Awards 2024 will feature 24 categories for film, 26 categories for television, 17 categories for games, and 10 categories for craft. The nominees for the BAFTA Awards 2024 were announced on January 12, and include films such as Dune, Belfast, The Power of the Dog, and Spencer, television shows such as Succession, Ted Lasso, Squid Game, and Mare of Easttown, and games such as Deathloop, It Takes Two, Psychonauts 2, and Resident Evil Village. The BAFTA Awards 2024 will also honor some of the legends and pioneers of the industry, such as Steven Spielberg, who will receive the BAFTA Fellowship from BAFTA Awards 2024 , the highest accolade of the academy, and Michaela Coel, who will receive the BAFTA Special Award, for her outstanding contribution to television.

The BAFTA Awards 2024 will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, and will also be available to watch online on the BAFTA website and social media channels. The BAFTA Awards 2024 will be a celebration of the best of British and international talent, and a showcase of the diversity, creativity, and innovation of the entertainment industry.