Speakers
We have always felt strongly that if you can see it and hear it, you can believe it and if your mind can go there, your feet will follow and we know that being able to speak with, and listen to, a range of specialists from the screen industries is extremely powerful if you are thinking of a career in the screen industries.
We have seen the power of giving young people access to filmmaking specialists from a wide range of industry roles and experience levels. Our Academy participants gain crucial 'insider' knowledge of lots of different job roles along with an understanding of how the industry works directly from those already at the heart of it.
Our speaker sessions have always been an important component of our courses. We pride ourselves on the quality of our speakers and are extremely grateful to them for giving their time and choosing to give back to the next generation of filmmakers.
These sessions enable Academy participants to access employers, policy makers and inspirational leaders as well learn how to best get a foot in the door from other young people who have recently started out in the industry and who are treading a similar path to the one our participants are often keen to take themselves.
Wherever possible we invite speakers who have a regional connection with our course locations - it is extremely impactful if a young person can identify and connect with someone in the industry who they have something in common with.
Many thanks to all our speakers who have contributed to our courses over the years. Here's a taster of some of them...
MARY BURKE is a multiple BAFTA and BIFA winning film and television producer. As the creative force behind PUBLIC DREAMS LTD, Mary produces world class television and films including Submarine, Berberian Sound Studio, Ammonite, Saint Maud, Colette and I Am Not A Witch with talent who value quality and integrity.
Actor AKI OMOSHAYBI starred in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, A Moving Image, Riot Club and Burning Men. Aki's debut feature as a Writer, Director and Producer, Real, premiered at the BFI London Film Festival and runs his own production company Small Long Productions.
ROSE GLASS is a film director and screenwriter whose BAFTA nominated debut feature film, Saint Maud was shot in Scarborough and earned her Best Debut Director award at the BIFA awards.
BAFTA winning actor, honorary World Boxing Champion, and multi award winning Producer, Director and Writer STUART BRENNAN is also CEO of multi disciplinary entertainment studio Stronghold and starred in films such as Risen and Tomorrow which was Executive Produced by Martin Scorsese
CATHERINE ALLEN is most well known as a leading expert in immersive technology, including VR and its relationship with the public. She is the founder of Limina Immersive who ran cultural VR events across the world to audiences of over 15,000.
DAN BARROW is a VFX Producer and Senior VFX Executive at Netflix having worked on films including The Little Mermaid, The Swimmers, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Jason Bourne, Sherlock Holmes, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and several Harry Potter films.
VIRPI KETTU is an award winning director, animator and digital artist with credits on several Aardman Animations films including Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Creature Comforts. She has also created music videos for artists such as Radiohead and Katy Perry. Virpi founded Kettu Studios, an animation, film and immersive media production studio.
JASON WOOD is Executive Director of Public Programmes and Audiences at the BFI previously working in exhibition and distribution for companies including Curzon and Picturehouse and as Creative Director of HOME in Manchester. Jason is a regular contributor to cultural and film publications, has written several film books, and is also a Filmmaker, Producer and Distributor.
BAFTA nominated RACHEL CLARK (for her cinematography on I Am... Ruth starring Kate Winslet and Rocks), began as a runner on films including Shane Meadows' This Is England, and progressed into the camera department working on films such as Bronson, American Honey and blockbusters such as Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them and Black Panther.
ROSIE SUMMERS is an Internationally renowned 3D animator and Virtual Reality Artist who we first met whilst she was still at College in Leeds. Rosie has worked for clients such as YouTube, BBC Studios and The British Library and as an animator at XR Games such as Angry Birds Movie 2 VR: Under Pressure and Zombieland VR