BAFTA Says It Has Achieved Nearly All Membership Diversity Targets Since 2020, Though Women Still Short of 50%

The British Academy has unveiled the make-up of its 14,000 members five years after going through a comprehensive review process aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion.

According to BAFTA, as of 2025, it has achieved nearly all of the membership targets set out in 2020, with 20% minority ethnic group (actual 19.85%), 12% Deaf, Disabled & Neurodivergent (actually 12.84%) and 10% LGB+ (actual 13.29%). However, while BAFTA did set a target of 50% of its membership identifying as women, this figure is currently 43%. But it noted that 51% of new members joining since 2020 identify as women.

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A socio-economic background target was not set in 2020, with BAFTA introducing this question — as determined by the Social Mobility Commission — and beginning reporting on it in 2023. Currently, 19% of members are from working class backgrounds, with 21% of all new members joining since 2020 identifying in this group.

From 2026, BAFTA says it will increase its membership target for Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent to 18% by 2030 (based on the UK working age population 2024) and aimed to attract 25% of new members from low socio-economic backgrounds by 2030. It also claims it will look in more depth at the representation of People of Colour in senior industry leader roles, and focus on increasing women in the games sector and in craft roles where current representation is lower than 40%.

“I’m proud of the progress BAFTA has made in growing a diverse membership that reflects the breadth of talent and experiences of those working in film, games and television today,” said BAFTA Chair Sara Putt. “There are areas where systemic challenges continue to limit opportunity, and we must continue to push industry benchmarks where representation lags behind the U.K. working age population — for example, the number of disabled people in our industries and the number of those from working class backgrounds. We will use our membership data to highlight and explore in more depth areas where underrepresentation persists, for example, women in games and craft roles, and people of colour in senior industry leader roles.”

Added Andrew Miller, BAFTA Board Trustee and Disability Advisory Group member: “Inclusion doesn’t just happen, it takes effort, energy and commitment. So I am immensely proud of BAFTA’s determination to shift the dial around disability. With nearly 13% of our membership now declaring disability and an ambitious stretch target in place for 2030, BAFTA is offering an industry lead in how to deliver real change when it comes to representation of disabled people.”

In total, 10,000 BAFTA members vote across BAFTA annual awards in film, games and television. 782 new full members have joined BAFTA this year.