At the upcoming BAFTA Game Awards, Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen will receive a special honour. The Academy is awarding the Supercell co-founder a BAFTA Fellowship in recognition of his contributions to the games industry.
The BAFTA Game Awards ceremony takes place on 17 April and is one of the most prestigious awards in the European games industry. For many years, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts has presented awards for the international games industry alongside its film awards. Although the focus of the BAFTA Game Awards is naturally on the UK, international products are also recognised, albeit mostly from the English-speaking gaming market.
However, when awarding the BAFTA Fellowship, the Academy has consistently recognised the lifetime achievements of renowned industry figures, including those from non-English-speaking countries. Before Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen, the award had already been presented to Yoko Shimomura, Shuhei Yoshida, Siobhan Reddy, Hideo Kojima, Tim Schafer and John Carmack, among others.
“Receiving the BAFTA Fellowship is an incredible honour. Looking at the names of previous Fellows, I see so many of my personal heroes – people whose work has inspired me and who I continue to look up to. Being included in their company is something I never could have imagined. Throughout my career, I have been extremely fortunate. But my greatest fortune, by far, has been the privilege of working with amazingly talented and passionate game developers over the past 25 years. They are the ones who create the magic. This award truly belongs to each and every one of them,” says Ilkka Paananen.
And Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA, adds: “It is a real privilege to honour Ilkka with the BAFTA Fellowship this year. A visionary leader in games, he has built a globally influential company while championing creative collaboration and trust at every level. His deep respect and commitment to nurturing emerging talent and his ongoing support for young people reflect the very best of BAFTA’s values.”
At least once a year, Ilkka Paananen publishes an ‘Ilkka’s Long Text’ on Supercell’s corporate blog, which usually focuses on Supercell-related topics but often addresses issues affecting the industry as a whole. Just a few weeks ago, a post appeared on industry coasting, innovation and Supercell’s investments in studios. In October 2025, the Supercell CEO used this format to publicly criticise the EU’s Digital Fairness Act.
