BURSARIES

The EE BAFTA Rising Star Award

The EE BAFTA Rising Star Award was launched at the British Academy Film Awards in 2006 to honour the year’s brightest young actor.

As the only audience award of the ceremony, the Rising Star Award honours a young actor of any nationality who has demonstrated exceptional talent and begun to capture the imagination of the British public as a film star in the making.

The Award is dedicated to the memory of Mary Selway the highly-respected, BAFTA winning British casting director who died in 2004. Mary was involved on some of the biggest movies of the 20th century; she helped create some of the silver screen’s most memorable characters and launched the careers of many stars. She is dearly missed.

Society of London Theatre’s Laurence Olivier Bursary

Facilitated by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and The Theatre Development Trust, Laurence Olivier bursaries are awarded to exceptional drama school students, providing them with vital financial support as they enter their final year of training. Every year the CDG support the Bursary.

The bursary scheme was established in 1987 to celebrate Laurence Olivier’s 80th birthday and continues to champion the next generation of acting talent. It is awarded to students who demonstrate extraordinary promise but face financial barriers to complete their training.

Nominees are put forward by drama schools across the UK and invited to audition in central London.

Past recipients that have been supported by the CDG donation have included Cormac McAlinden, Hasia Hakwaboah, Chantelle Amon, Charles Entsie, Shaniqua Okwok, Samuel Adebayo, Caleb Obediah and Tommy Sim’aan.

Past bursary winners have often presented at the CDG Awards.