Film London Appoints New Board Members

Four new faces will join a UK film and media agency bringing with them government and industry knowledge.
Sir Robin Young, Sally Caplan, Kevin Price and Liz Meek will join Film London’s board,Chaired by producer David Parfitt, bringing a strong combination of government and industry knowledge to the capital’s film and media agency, which now also manages the British Film Commission.
David Parfitt, Chair of Film London said: "I am delighted with these very strong additions to our board. These appointments are part of Film London’s comprehensive strategy to successfully drive the agency forward. Film London is in a fantastic position, having maintained crucial funding streams from the Mayor of London, the BFI, Arts Council England and Skillset in order to continue to deliver inward investment services, talent development opportunities and business growth initiatives for the film industry. It is essential that we have the right expertise and knowledge in place to build on this and I believe the strength of our board puts us in the best possible position to make the most effective use of our resources, support industry needs, while seeing production continuing to deliver for the UK’s economy.”
Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London and the British Film Commission said: "I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing board members Martin Pilgrim and Nadine Marsh Edwards for their six years of service. They have been a fantastic asset and I appreciate their commitment and all their hard work. I would also like to welcome our four new members, I believe with they will enhance our existing board and with their combined wealth of experience, we can continue to deliver for not only the production industries in London but support the film industry across the whole of the UK."
Sir Robin Young, who is currently on the Board of Institute of Directors, was formerly Permanent Secretary at the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DMCS). His successful career in the civil service spanned over 31 years, working in five government departments. In addition to the DCMS, he also headed up the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Young has a vast amount of experience in working in national government, with particular focus on culture and trade. He will strengthen the Film London board in view of its new national remit for inward investment, managing the British Film Commission.
Sally Caplan, Managing Director of eOne Films International, was Head of the Premiere Fund at the UK Film Council between 2005 and 2010. During this time she awarded funding to over 45 films including Mike Leigh’s Happy Go Lucky and Another Year, Made In Dagenham by Nigel Cole, Sam Taylor-Wood’s Nowhere Boy and Max Giwa and Dania Pasquini’s Streetdance 3D. Sally also committed funding to the phenomenal worldwide commercial hit and multi Oscar®-winning film, The King’s Speech. Prior to being at the UKFC, Caplan was President of Icon Film UK following a successful career in acquisitions at PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Universal and then Momentum Pictures during which time, high profile projects she acquired include Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, Usual Suspects, Lost In Translation and Eternal Sunshine Of A Spotless Mind.
Kevin Price has been BAFTA’s Chief Operating Officer for the past 11 years. His expertise has seen him leading on strategy, finance, business, corporate governance, communications and charity outreach and he has been credited with evolving BAFTA into an integral organisation in the UK’s Film, Television and Video Games industries. Kevin’s skills will be a real asset to Film London’s board, especially in the areas of strategic business and corporate governance.
Liz Meek is currently Chair of a new London think-tank, the Centre for London and has a fantastic knowledge of local and regional government, particularly in London. Formerly Head of the Government Office for London, she supported the creation of the London Film Commission (which became part of Film London in 2003), led the civil service team which established the Greater London Authority and was a Regional Director of the Government Office for London. Subsequently she was Regional Director in the North West, leaving in March 2011 to work in the Cabinet Office in an advisory capacity.
Leaving the Film London board, having reached the end of their tenures, are Martin Pilgrim who was formerly Chief Executive of London Councils and independent film producer Nadine Marsh Edwards.
(LB)