BFI Film Fund hires new senior production and development manager

The BFI has appointed independent producer Ama Ampadu as the new senior production and development manager for the BFI Film Fund. Ampadu replaces Kristin Irving, who joined BBC Film late last year.

Ampadu will report to Natascha Wharton, Filmfonds’ Editorial Director, and will work alongside Louise Ortega, who joined the organization last year as Senior Production and Development Executive, and Lizzie Francke, Editor-at-Large.

Ampadu’s brief will focus on film debuts and will work closely with BFI NETWORK to ensure a hands-on crossover for new and emerging talent.

Along with Ortega and the rest of the team, Ampadu will also oversee the fund’s slate, which includes projects in various stages of production, assisting filmmakers at every stage of the shooting process and beyond, as well as developing outreach strategies to bring filmmakers to the BFI. .

The BFI said that when working on development and production funds, Ampadu will review applications, recommend funding decisions and provide practical creative, production and holistic support to filmmakers and film projects.

The Film Fund is currently closed to applications as the BFI prepares to establish a new National Lottery Film Production Fund in March as part of the National Lottery’s restructured funding strategy announced in September 2022.

Ampadu has over 12 years of experience in the industry as an independent producer, producing films such as lambEthiopian writer-director Yared Zeleke’s first feature film was screened in Un Certain Regard in Cannes in 2015. More recently, Ampadu produced two films by artistic filmmaker Ayo Akingbade and lionsa short film by filmmaker Beru Tessema.

Mia Bays, director of the BFI Film Fund, said: “We are delighted that Ama is joining us and brings a producer’s perspective to the team, which is very international. We applaud her pragmatic approach and highly developed skills and relationships with filmmakers, and we have no doubt that she will enrich the team, organization and projects she supports.”

Ampadu added that she was “excited” to join the BFI, where she will continue to engage with the “contemporary creative scene” and “underappreciated artists” with diverse stories and voices.

“I intend to listen and serve you to discover and nurture the best of British talent, in all its diversity and beyond, and I endorse ground-breaking projects that resonate with audiences,” she said.