Herts' Screenwriting Graduate Receives BAFTA Award For His Work On EastEnders

University of Hertfordshire film and TV graduate Kyri Zindilis has been awarded a BAFTA for his work on BBC's EastEnders.

Kyri, who graduated in 2011 from the University, was part of a six-person BBC team who were collectively awarded the BAFTA for Best Soap and Continuing Drama.
The award, by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), recognises excellence in British soap operas and long-running drama series. It highlights outstanding storytelling, character development, and production quality and is a prestigious accolade.

Kyri's significant contributions to the show—as a senior story editor and current story producer—have been instrumental in its continued success. He worked on pivotal episodes, such as the 35th-anniversary specials and emotionally impactful storylines about issues such as depression, grief and trauma.

Reflecting on how his life and times at the University has influenced his career journey, Kyri said: "It was a joy to study at the University of Hertfordshire, and my BA (Hons) Film & TV Production course allowed me to develop and hone my skills within all areas of the filmmaking process.
"I feel it gave me a real taste of which area of the Film and TV industry I wanted to work in, and also gave me the opportunity to make some creative and talented friends for life."

Kyri joins other high-achieving alumni from the University's School of Creative Arts Kyri such as Will Lloyd-Cook, who served as the animation director for the BAFTA-winning children's animation Numberblocks and Felix Peever (2017), Beth Jones (2020), and Avneet Poonian (2023) who contributed as set dressers and prop makers to the Oscar-nominated Wallace & Gromit film The Great Escape. In February the University's graphic design course was independently ranked in the world's top ten.

The University of Hertfordshire offers a well-regarded MA Screenwriting program, designed to provide students with practical and intensive training in screenwriting within a collaborative filmmaking environment.