We're happy to introduce you to the cohort who have been taking part in our BFI NETWORK New Director's Series which was open to Midlands-based creatives looking to learn more about directing for the screen. The series of online sessions have been delivered by BFI NETWORK, BBC New Creatives and BBC Studios funded Writer-Director Cassiah Joski-Jethi (CATCH A BUTCHER, THE PINK PILL) and explored key considerations and practices when directing narrative fiction.
The cohort has embedded their knowledge of how to break down a script, best practices when working with actors and crew, and gained an overview of film departments to understand the responsibilities of each departmental role and what one's expectations and responsibilities should be as a director.
The cohort
Dan Auluk
Dan Auluk is a visual artist-curator and moving image maker, based in Birmingham. is currently working on his first film short documentary collaboration with his mother; exploring language, objects and place through untold stories.
Cerys Bessey
Cerys ran the filmmaking society at Durham University, beginning her dedication to a career in the industry. After developing Durham Film Festival and graduating in 2022, Cerys aims to direct her own films and submit to festivals internationally.
Joanne Burbidge
Joanne is a classically trained singer and musician and has expanded her story-telling for the screen and stage. She is writing a feature, a comedy-drama series, and is soon set to direct her debut short film.
Edward Buxton
Edward’s most recent film; FINGER PRICK was commissioned for the BBC New Creatives and starred Dylan Llewellyn, making its broadcast debut on BBC Four and iPlayer in November 2021.
Ray Jacobs
Ray has been an inclusive dance and theatre practitioner for the last 20 years and in the last seven has created short narrative fiction and dance film works, collaborating with disabled performers and writers.
Sean McGrail
Sean started out as a documentary maker with subjects such as Sonic Boom Six, Jeffrey Lewis and Paddy Slattery. He is a frequent collaborator of Sean McAllister (A NORTHERN SOUL) and recently premiered his solo debut short THIS IS MY TOWN.
Zhané Pryce
Zhané is a writer-director drawn to telling stories that explore journeys of self-discovery and social realism. Her short MIDDAY was funded as part of the BBC New Creatives programme.
Haris Salihovic
Haris Salihovic is a British-Bosnian actor. Currently, he is working on DEDO – his debut as a writer-director. The short film follows a fragmented family of Bosnian refugees in '90s Northampton.