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The British Film Institute (BFI) has appointed Isabel Davis as its new director of Filmmaking Funds.
Davis will work on a five-year fixed-term contract, starting in October this year. She will take over from Mia Bays, who will leave the role that month.
Davis will join the BFI from Screen Scotland, where she has been executive director for eight years.
Prior to that, she worked at the UK Film Council starting in 2006 and transferred to the BFI in 2011 when the former was dissolved. She began as senior executive before becoming head of international in 2012, a role she held until 2018, during which time she backed films including Cold War, Mary Shelley, The Lobster and High Life.
Her new role includes managing a £20m ($26.7m) annual budget for the Filmmaking Funds, and spearheading the BFI’s work supporting UK independent filmmakers.
“I’m honoured to be stepping into this role at a time when this public funding is critical to building a successful future for UK film and the public value it represents,” said Davis.
“It’s a challenging moment for UK independent film, economically and structurally. But audience appetite for great stories, and for the communal experience of cinema-going, is strikingly resurgent and our filmmaking talent continues to be among the world’s best. Enabling filmmakers to produce work that connects with a broad range of audiences across the UK – through ambition, inventiveness and heart – has to be at the core of our response. Daunting, yes, but exciting too.
“My excitement is tempered only by sadness at leaving Scotland, which I’ve been lucky enough to call home for much of my adult life, including through the creative upswing of the past eight years. Huge thanks to my Screen Scotland teammates, whose talent, hard work and good nature serve our industry, audiences and young people to such positive effect, and to our colleagues at Creative Scotland for their support.
“I’ll bring my experience in Scotland to this role, and with it a truly UK-wide perspective on the BFI’s support of independent film. So Scotland hasn’t seen the last of me – nor indeed have Northern Ireland, Wales and the English regions.”
“Isabel is tenacious when it comes to doing the right thing for UK independent film and filmmakers,” said Ben Roberts, BFI CEO. “This is such a huge job, a cornerstone of UK independent film, and Isabel brings experience, passion, and a national and a global outlook, and a firm commitment to fairness and public service. She will be an asset to the film community and the BFI.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Isabel Davis as the new director of the BFI Filmmaking Fund,” said Harriet Finney, BFI deputy CEO and executive director of corporate affairs and partnerships. “Isabel combines a deep-rooted commitment to independent filmmaking with a clear-sighted understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the sector today. She has a proven track record of bringing people together to drive meaningful change, and her experience at Screen Scotland gives her a distinctive perspective on how we can best support filmmakers across the UK.
“At a moment of profound change for our industry, I can think of no better person to lead the BFI’s vision for a thriving independent sector. I am confident that Isabel will shape the future not only of the BFI’s National Lottery Filmmaking Funds, but also of our wider strategic response to the urgent questions facing independent filmmakers today. We look forward to welcoming her to the BFI in October.
“I would also like to thank Mia Bays, the current director of the BFI Filmmaking Fund, for her tireless commitment to the BFI and to the filmmakers we have supported over the past five years.”
Nicky Bentham, producer and co-chair of Pact’s Film Producers’ Group, added: “Isabel has a wealth of experience in providing strategic thinking and action to develop and deliver support for UK filmmaking talent. UK independent producers are facing critical challenges – from raising finance through to getting films sold and out to audiences – and I feel confident that Isabel has the right expertise to guide the BFI Filmmaking Funds so they can achieve maximum impact. I also look forward to working with her in my role at Pact as she leads on the BFI’s work to engage and support the wider UK independent filmmaking community.”
The appointment comes after a process of several months, which began with a job description posted in late April, an application deadline of May 11, and headhunting firm Quicksmith canvassing opinions from industry figures.
External interviewers on the panel included producers and BFI board members Elizabeth Karlsen and Hakan Kousetta, and Bentham as Pact group co-chair, while Roberts and Finney were among those representing the BFI.
During her tenure, Bays launched a reshaped BFI Filmmaking Fund as part of the BFI’s 10-year Screen Culture 2033 strategy. She has overseen BFI-backed features including Kneecap and My Father’s Shadow, which won the Bafta film award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer in consecutive years.
After leaving the BFI role, Bays will lead a UK version of the low-budget Dogma filmmaking programme.
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