We are thrilled to announce that Adrian Wootton OBE will be joining our 2024 Awards Jury!
With an impressive background in the world of film and an illustrious career, he is a true luminary in the industry.
Adrian currently holds the position of Chief Executive at Film London, an agency dedicated to fostering the growth of the screen industries in the heart of the UK's capital. He also leads the British Film Commission, which plays a pivotal role in showcasing the United Kingdom as the ultimate destination for creating feature films and high-end television productions.
One of Adrian's most recent accomplishments is his pivotal role in leading the British Film Commission's efforts to develop COVID-19 production guidelines for the film and high-end TV drama sector. This initiative is part of the broader COVID-19 Screen Sector Recovery Task Force undertaken by the British Film Institute (BFI).
Before taking on the role of Chief Executive at Film London in 2003, Adrian had a remarkable journey at the British Film Institute (BFI). His roles within the organisation have been nothing short of impressive, including Acting Director, Director of the London Film Festival (LFF), the National Film Theatre (NFT), Head of BFI Exhibition, and Director of Crime Scene, the BFI's crime and mystery film festival.
Yet his experience is not limited to London; Adrian was the Founding Director of Broadway Media Centre in Nottingham and the Director of the Bradford Playhouse & Film Theatre. Adrian's influence extends far and wide, especially in the world of film festivals. He serves as a Programme Advisor for prestigious events like the BFI London Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, and Noir in Festival, Milan. His own initiatives include founding Shots in the Dark, Nottingham's crime and mystery film festival, and curating the celebrated Cinema Made in Italy.
His insights and expertise also reach the airwaves, as Adrian frequently contributes film reviews and broadcasts for BBC Radio 4. His written works can be found in various publications, including The Guardian and Sight & Sound.
Adrian is not only a dedicated practitioner but also an educator and curator. He delivers lectures both nationally and internationally, curating film programs and retrospectives on diverse subjects, ranging from Elvis Presley to Raymond Chandler, Graham Greene, Frank Sinatra, and the Rolling Stones. He played a significant role in coordinating the film and television components of the international Dickens 2012 celebrations, co-curating an extensive retrospective that toured globally.
Adrian's involvement in documentary filmmaking has been impactful. He co-wrote and co-narrated the 2012 documentary "Dickens on Film" for BBC Arena and Film London, and in 2016, he co-wrote and produced "All the World's A Screen," a documentary on Shakespeare and film. He was extensively engaged in the Shakespeare 400th-anniversary celebrations, curating film programs and delivering lectures worldwide.
His dedication to the industry has not gone unnoticed; Adrian received an Honorary Doctorate in the Arts in 2012 and was appointed Visiting Professor of Film & Media at Norwich University of the Arts. In 2014, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from The University of East Anglia. In 2017, his exceptional contributions to the world of film were recognised with an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
Beyond his outstanding professional endeavours, Adrian is also an accomplished editor, known for 'Black Friday & Selected Stories,' a collection of stories by the American crime writer David Goodis. Currently, he is immersed in two exciting writing projects – a critical study of the life and career of English novelist Graham Greene and a monograph on the American crime writer Raymond Chandler.
Adrian's affiliations extend to distinguished organisations such as the British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA), the European Film Academy (EFA), the British Screen Forum, and the DIT Creative Industries Trade and Investment Board.
We are honoured and delighted to have Adrian Wootton OBE as part of our 2024 Awards Jury, bringing his extensive knowledge and passion for film to our festival.
Information source: https://filmlondon.org.uk/
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