Media Molecule boss Siobhan Reddy to be honoured with BAFTA Fellowship

Studio director recognised for her pioneering work on diversity and creative working culture

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced Media Molecule boss Siobhan Reddy will be presented with the Fellowship at the BAFTA Games Awards on March 25.

The Fellowship is BAFTA’s highest accolade bestowed upon an individual, which BAFTA says highlights the studio director’s creative contribution to the industry.

Previous recipients of the Fellowship include Hideo Kojima, Tim Schafer, John Carmack, David Braben OBE, Rockstar Games, Gabe Newell, Peter Molyneux, Shigeru Miyamoto and Will Wright.

South Africa-born Reddy was one of Media Molecule’s first employees, having joined from nearby Criterion in 2006. She was executive producer for the original LittleBigPlanet, before being promoted to studio director in 2009.

BAFTA said Siobhan receives the BAFTA fellowship in recognition of her pioneering work on advocacy for diversity, inclusion and creative and collaborative working culture.

Amanda Berry OBE, chief executive of BAFTA, said: “Siobhan is one of the leading figures in the industry, championing games as an art form and inspiring the next generation of diverse and creative minds.

“Collaboration and creativity lie at the heart of Siobhan’s work and this achievement shines a light on her instrumental and ground-breaking work in the industry. Siobhan has been a long-time supporter of BAFTA and its work with new talent and also delivered our flagship Games Lecture in 2018.”

Reddy added: “I am so incredibly honoured and moved to receive the BAFTA Fellowship Award. I have been privileged throughout my life and career with incredible support and encouragement. I sincerely hope that my story, voice and support can be useful to others within the games industry.

“There is still so much to do, the Fellowship provides further motivation for me, and is real encouragement for all of us to care even more about inclusivity, diversity and building a work culture that celebrates creativity.”

The BAFTA Games Awards recently announced its nominations for 2021, with Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us: Part 2 up for a record 13 awards. The Last of Us beats the record set by Control and Death Stranding last year, when both titles were up for 11 awards (but eventually took home just one each).

This year’s BAFTA Games Awards will take place via a 90-minute live stream on Thursday, March 25, hosted by journalist Elle Osili-Wood.

BAFTA says this year’s show format will focus on the audience at home, “highlighting the role that games play in our lives and how they have kept us all connected, entertained and inspired over the past year.”

The Awards, including the nominations, are voted for by BAFTA’s global membership, which it says is comprised of “experienced games industry practitioners from a range of backgrounds in game development and production”.