Three senior executives at the UK’s BFI Film Fund, editor-at-large Lizzie Francke, head of production Fiona Morham, and head of editorial Natascha Wharton, will step down later this year.
The trio has helped to lead the BFI’s National Lottery funding for the development and production of UK films, and supported films including Rye Lane, Aftersun, Girl, Triangle Of Sadness and Rocks.
The news comes ahead of details of the latest iteration of the fund, to be announced tomorrow (Tuesday March 20), which forms part of Screen Culture 2033, the BFI’s 10-year strategy.
Francke, Morham and Wharton will depart in late spring/early summer 2023 and will continue to support their slate of projects and work with the Filmmaking Fund team as it transitions to a new structure.
Ben Roberts, BFI CEO, said: “Natascha, Lizzie and Fiona leave a huge legacy behind them and a lasting impact on UK filmmaking that has seen them steer some of the most exciting and important work coming out of the UK independent sector. They also leave us with an amazing slate of projects of which we are all incredibly proud.”
Francke, Morham and Wharton said: “With the 2023-33 strategy and the Filmmaking Fund being launched this week we feel it is a perfect time to step away to pursue our own ventures.
“In recent years we have been immensely proud to have worked collectively across a broad range of films and in that witness an exceptional sea change in UK cinema with many new and original voices and perspectives being amplified. The vital work continues with a compelling range of projects going into imminent production and we are excited for the team we leave behind.
”The new wave we have overseen and supported feels like a mighty force.”
Mia Bays, director of the BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Fund, added: “Myself and the rest of the team, and, most importantly the filmmakers we work with, have learnt an enormous amount from them. I think I speak for everyone in saying how much we will benefit from their wealth of experience in this handover period, and wish them well for the future.”
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