Rebecca Johnson

“I make films with young people. Every film is a creative collaboration and a mentoring programme,” says Johnson, who undertakes extensive research to ensure her films remain true to the people who inspire them. Her method has resulted in several good documentaries, as well as last year’s short film Top Girl. A low-key gem about a teenage girl rapper with a subtle message about gender politics, the short has enjoyed a lively festival career and brought Johnson attention from the UK industry. Now on the Guiding Lights programme with mentor Paul Greengrass, Johnson is working on a Brixton-set TV series, a short film about unrequited first love and a feature to be produced by Natasha Marsh.