Tuesday 15th September 2026: The British Association for Screen Entertainment (BASE) is proud to announce the five emerging professionals shortlisted for the BASE Rising Star Award 2026, celebrating the talent, potential and fresh thinking helping to shape the future of Home Entertainment.
The winner will be revealed on Thursday 5 November 2026 at the 46th BASE Awards, when 500 guests from across the major studios, distributors, platforms, retailers, agencies and creative partners gather at The Londoner in Leicester Square for the flagship celebration of UK Home Entertainment.
The BASE Rising Star Award 2026 nominees are:
- Abby Phippen – Vertigo Releasing
- Catarina dos Santos – Paramount Pictures
- Gary Rawlings – Spirit Entertainment
- Georgia Carr – Sony Pictures Entertainment
- Kayleigh Stevens – SKY Store
The nominations were united by a clear set of themes. Each shortlisted individual was recognised as a future leader who consistently goes above and beyond to drive their organisation forward, supports and elevates colleagues, and contributes to the advancement of the wider Home Entertainment industry. Together, they represent a generation of emerging talent defined not only by ambition and impact, but by generosity, collaboration and a clear commitment to the sector’s future.
Each shortlisted nominee will receive mentoring through the BASE, DEGI & Industry Trust Mentorship Programme, connecting them with experienced industry leaders who can offer perspective, challenge and practical support as they take the next steps in their careers. The winner will also receive the opportunity to join the British Screen Forum Future Leaders Programme, extending that development beyond the Awards night and into a wider cross-industry network.
The BASE Rising Star Award builds on the mentoring-led initiative first piloted through the former Hedy Lamarr Rising Star Award. Following the success of that trial, BASE expanded the work into its wider Mentoring Programme for 2026, matching emerging professionals with senior leaders from across the UK and international entertainment industry. The programme is designed to strengthen career prospects, develop leadership potential and help the sector retain and progress outstanding talent.
Liz Bales, Chief Executive, BASE, said:
“This shortlist is a brilliant reflection of the talent coming through our industry. What stood out across the nominations was not only the impact these individuals are already making within their organisations, but the way they support their colleagues, bring others with them and contribute to the wider sector. Those are the qualities of future leaders. Congratulations to Abby, Catarina, Gary, Georgia and Kayleigh. We look forward to celebrating with them at The Londoner in November.”
The BASE Awards celebrate excellence across Home Entertainment – the part of the screen-content lifecycle that connects audiences with film and television beyond the cinema, across digital and physical formats. The Awards recognise the creativity, innovation, commercial impact and people shaping how entertainment is discovered, accessed, owned and enjoyed.
The 46th BASE Awards are made possible by the generous support of the event’s sponsors and partners. BASE would like to extend a huge thank you to BDS West10, BIFA, Birra Moretti, Boxtails, Disney, DP World, JustWatch, Lionsgate, OC, Official Charts Company, PREMIER, Scanavo, Silk Factory, Sony Pictures, Spirit Entertainment, STUDIOCANAL, The Yummy Yank and TiVo. Their support enables BASE to bring the industry together and give its outstanding people, creativity and achievements the celebration they deserve.
A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are still available for organisations looking to be part of this standout industry occasion. And the last few remaining tickets for the 46th BASE Awards are available via the BASE Awards website.
