We’re excited to announce the nine filmmakers representing the Midlands in the 2022 BFI NETWORK Creative Producer Lab. Our class of 2022 will join a nine-strong contingent from the North on a career and creative development journey over the next few months. During that time, they'll sharpen their production management skills, learn from leading industry figures and expand their filmmaking networks.
The lab's Midlands cohort draws together Producers with a range of filmmaking and theatre experience from across the region. We can't wait to see how their slates will develop and what projects we'll see from them next - but, in the meantime, we're proud to introduce the class of 2022.
Camille Burnett (She/Her)
Camile is a queer, neurodivergent, Black-British actor & producer. In 2020 she founded Green Wasp Productions and recently became company director of Nexus Cast and Crew Network CIC, supporting Midlands creatives in progressing their careers.
Natalie Chan (She/Her)
Natalie is a Hong Kong-born theatre producer and fundraiser. Currently working as In Good Company's Creative Producer for Derby theatre she leads the Midlands’ flagship artist development program as well as working as an independent producer.
Sue Gainsborough (She/Her)
Sue has worked in several senior development roles leading major, and award-winning, strategic and cultural initiatives. She established and leads MediaActive Projects, a West Midlands-based arts organisation delivering a range of film activity.
Mark Campbell-Garrity (He/Him)
Mark began his career in filmmaking as a Camera Assistant before transitioning into production and directing. Currently co-producing BFI NETWORK-funded short PLAGGY BAG, he has also worked on shorts supported by BBC Arts & Arts Council England.
Orphee Kashala (He/Him)
Orphée is an art curator & creative producer based in Birmingham, who has worked on programmes with the Herbert Art Gallery & Ort Gallery. He is currently developing “Logic and Gut”, a Creative Intellectual Property development & production company.
Joshua Oliver (He/Him)
With a career starting in Media Production, Joshua moved to developing his own work, recently earning national media attention for a social video art project as Red Jay. He has an MA in Screenwriting & is a tutor at Met Film School, Leeds.
Becky Rooney (She/Her)
Becky has worked in a variety of behind-the-camera roles, including as Produce-Director in documentaries and Location Manager in HETV. Keen to tell female-led stories, she already has a few shorts on her slate and is developing her producing voice.
Rich Dampare Smartt (Pronounced Dam-pah-ree) (He/Him)
Dramatist & Lyricist, Rich’s background is in spoken word, producing events & coaching. He was part of We are Parable’s 2020 Momentum cohort, received mentoring from Altitude films and recently completed a placement with Two Brother’s Pictures.
Gemma Whitfield (She/Her)
Interested in bold stories & challenging perceptions, Gemma is a producer & writer from Birmingham. Past roles include Project Manager/Co-Producer on Birmingham Opera Company’s Dido and Aeneas & Producer of Roundhouse London’s Queerhouse Project.