BAFTA Awards 2024: June Givanni to receive BAFTA for Outstanding Contribution to UK Cinema this year

June Givanni, a prominent film curator, is set to receive BAFTA’s Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award at the upcoming awards ceremony in February for her extensive contributions through the June Givanni PanAfrican Archive (JGPACA), which has diligently preserved the history of pan-African and Black British cinema and culture for over four decades. 

Expressing her gratitude for the recognition, Givanni remarked, “I was shocked and am honoured to receive such recognition from BAFTA for work that I have been privileged to be able to do with some of the most inspired and inspiring people in the world of cinema generally and Pan African cinema and culture in particular, especially with the energies of the younger generation of thinkers, curators, and artists who bring dynamic energies to working with, and discovering, the archives of the moving image from a pre-digital age.”

BAFTA CEO Jane Milichip praised Givanni, stating, “June has been a pioneering force in the preservation, study and celebration of African and African Diaspora cinema and Black British cultural heritage.” She highlighted the JGPACA as one of the world’s most important time capsules of ideas, stories, and creative output, representing an essential part of British and global film history.

Givanni oversees the JGPACA alongside her co-directors, filmmaker Imruh Bakari and Emma Sandon and their impact extends beyond archiving; Givanni has curated for international festivals, organizations, and TV channels, including Toronto International Film Festival’s Planet Africa and the African Caribbean Film Unit at the British Film Institute. Additionally, at the British Film Institute, she played a pivotal role in co-founding the quarterly “Black Film Bulletin” with Gaylene Gould.

The award marks the first time it has been presented since 2021, with that year’s recipient Noel Clarke having the award revoked the following month amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and bullying. Following this, BAFTA conducted an industry-wide review, suspending outstanding contribution awards for a year across film, TV, and video categories.

When are the nominees for the 2024 BAFTA Awards announced?

The nominees for the 2024 BAFTA Awards will be announced on January 18 2024

When is the 2024 BAFTA Awards ceremony?

The 2024 BAFTA Awards ceremony will take place on February 18 2024.