BAFTA Launches Review Over Free Awards Guest Tickets For Trustees

BAFTA has launched a review after its trustees were accused of potentially breaching UK charity law by accepting free guest tickets to awards ceremonies.

During BAFTA’s annual general meeting this week, Michael Pritchett, an independent film producer who serves as the elected chair of BAFTA’s membership council, raised concerns about whether trustees broke rules that prevent them from receiving remuneration or benefits.

Pritchett alleged that trustees had received complimentary tickets for themselves and a guest at BAFTA’s film, television, and games awards, according to a transcription of his remarks seen by Deadline. He claimed that the custom had been ongoing for up to 20 years, with guests receiving top-table tickets potentially worth up to £2,000 ($2,665) for the film awards.

Pritchett — who said he had been privately raising concerns with BAFTA officials for months — added that trustees approved accounts, which state that no trustees received any remuneration during the year for their services.

Speaking at the AGM, Pritchett said he had paid for legal advice at his own expense, which concluded that “offenses under the Charities Act and the Companies Act are likely to have been committed by the trustees who approved those accounts.”

Pritchett also raised questions over whether BAFTA had properly paid tax on the tickets. “Since 2016, a benefit like this is likely to have been taxable, with National Insurance payable by BAFTA. BAFTA has not told me that anything has ever been reported. So I can’t assure you whether it has or hasn’t,” he said.

BAFTA stopped offering plus-one tickets to trustees last year following a recommendation from its governance committee. It has now launched a review of ticketing arrangements, which is being led by a group of three unnamed industry executives.

A BAFTA spokesperson said: “Trustees of BAFTA are invited to attend events in a working capacity, representing the Academy in an ambassadorial role, and prior to 2025 they could also bring a ‘plus one’ guest to accompany them.

“In 2025 BAFTA decided to review its guest tickets arrangements and discontinued the long-standing custom and practice of trustees inviting a plus one. The board has since established an independent review group to consider the historic guest ticket arrangement – the review is underway.”

BAFTA stands by the practice of offering trustees themselves free tickets, believing it is part of their duties to attend events and act as ambassadors for the charity. BAFTA’s trustees, who provide their services voluntarily, include new chair, Hilary Rosen.

Pritchett was also critical of BAFTA’s refusal to hand over records of who had received free awards tickets. He said his request was refused by a senior BAFTA executive, with “no policy cited.”

During the annual general meeting, Sara Putt, BAFTA’s former chair, revealed that the Academy had obtained its own legal advice based on a fuller picture of the ticketing issue. This has not been shared with Pritchett or other members.

Pritchett told members: “Last year, you paid £4.7 million in membership fees. The records belong to the charity that you subscribe to. And if the person you elected can be refused those records, citing no rule, then the right to see anything is gone forever. Not just for me, but for anyone who holds this office after me.”

He concluded: “I would simply now say to any trustee in the future, as I’d say to any trustee of any charity: Will you obey the law, pay any taxes due, and pay back anything that is due? Correct the accounts, open the records to the committee as the rules require.”

The Guardian first reported on the events at BAFTA’s annual general meeting.