Tom Hiddleston launches BAFTA talent search in China

Tom Hiddleston is helping BAFTA officials find new Chinese acting talent for an international mentoring scheme.
The Avengers star, 38, joined British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) chief Amanda Barry and Chinese philanthropist Wendy Yu at the Shanghai International Film Festival on Friday (21Jun19) to announce the BAFTA Breakthrough China initiative.
It will involve a jury of Chinese and Brit industry experts selecting five ‘Breakthrough’ talents from across China to take part in the year-long mentoring programme, who will be flown to the U.K. to be introduced to British creative talents.
According to a press release, Tom, who will act as an ambassador for the scheme, said at the event: “Initiatives like BAFTA Breakthrough China are instrumental in helping to strengthen the careers of exciting new talent, and to promote them on a global scale.
“I have seen first-hand all the fantastic ways in which BAFTA supports Breakthrough British talent, and it’s wonderful that they will now be doing the same in China. There is so much creativity and craftsmanship in China: I’m excited to see who the winners will be.”
The initiative is the first international version of BAFTA’s U.K. scheme Breakthrough Brits, which has been running since 2013, and has helped launch the careers of actors including Black Panther’s Letitia Wright, and Spider-Man star Tom Holland.
The first five winners will be announced at an event at The Peninsula hotel in Shanghai in October.