Isabel Davis appointed as director of BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Funds

The BFI today announces the appointment of Isabel Davis as Director of the BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Funds, a crucial role in the BFI’s mission to create conditions for a culturally vibrant, inclusive and economically successful UK independent film sector. Isabel will provide strategic leadership and vision for the BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Funds and work with a range of UK and international partners and stakeholders to identify interventions that strengthen the UK independent film ecosystem.

Isabel joins the BFI in October 2026 for a five-year fixed term after eight years as Executive Director of Screen Scotland where she has championed the Scottish screen industry and been central to its transformation and growth. With a proven strategic track record of delivering tangible change, including securing additional funding for film, Isabel brings a valuable UK wide perspective to the role.

Isabel takes over from Mia Bays, the outgoing director of the Filmmaking Fund, who has led the fund since October 2021. During this time, Bays has launched a reshaped BFI Filmmaking Fund as part of the BFI’s 10-year strategy, BFI Screen Culture 2033. She has also overseen BFI-backed features winning the Bafta award for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer for two consecutive years (Kneecap in 2025 and My Father’s Shadow in 2026), and a BFI-backed short winning the 2026 Bafta for best British short animation (Two Black Boys in Paradise).

Isabel Davis said: “I’m honoured to be stepping into this role at a time when this public funding is critical to building a successful future for UK film and the public value it represents.

It’s a challenging moment for UK independent film, economically and structurally. But audience appetite for great stories, and for the communal experience of cinema-going, is strikingly resurgent and our filmmaking talent continues to be among the world’s best. Enabling filmmakers to produce work that connects with a broad range of audiences across the UK – through ambition, inventiveness and heart – has to be at the core of our response. Daunting, yes, but exciting too.

My excitement is tempered only by sadness at leaving Scotland, which I’ve been lucky enough to call home for much of my adult life including through the creative upswing of the past eight years. Huge thanks to my Screen Scotland teammates, whose talent, hard work and good nature serve our industry, audiences and young people to such positive effect, and to our colleagues at Creative Scotland for their support.

I’ll bring my experience in Scotland to this role, and with it a truly UK-wide perspective on the BFI’s support of independent film. So Scotland hasn’t seen the last of me – nor indeed have Northern Ireland, Wales and the English regions.”

Ben Roberts, BFI CEO, said: “Isabel is tenacious when it comes to doing the right thing for UK independent film and filmmakers. This is such a huge job, a cornerstone of UK independent film, and Isabel brings experience, passion, and a national and a global outlook, and a firm commitment to fairness and public service. She will be an asset to the film community and the BFI.”

Harriet Finney, BFI Deputy CEO and Exec Director of Corporate Affairs and Partnerships, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Isabel Davis as the new Director of the BFI Filmmaking Fund. Isabel combines a deep-rooted commitment to independent filmmaking with a clear-sighted understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the sector today. She has a proven track record of bringing people together to drive meaningful change, and her experience at Screen Scotland gives her a distinctive perspective on how we can best support filmmakers across the UK.

At a moment of profound change for our industry, I can think of no better person to lead the BFI’s vision for a thriving independent sector. I am confident that Isabel will shape the future not only of the BFI’s National Lottery Filmmaking Funds, but also of our wider strategic response to the urgent questions facing independent filmmakers today. We look forward to welcoming her to the BFI in October.

I would also like to thank Mia Bays, the current Director of the BFI Filmmaking Fund, for her tireless commitment to the BFI and to the filmmakers we have supported over the past five years.”

Nicky Bentham, producer and co-chair of Pact’s Film Producers’ Group, said: “Isabel has a wealth of experience in providing strategic thinking and action to develop and deliver support for UK filmmaking talent. UK independent producers are facing critical challenges – from raising finance through to getting films sold and out to audiences – and I feel confident that Isabel has the right expertise to guide the BFI Filmmaking Funds so they can achieve maximum impact. I also look forward to working with her in my role at Pact as she leads on the BFI’s work to engage and support the wider UK independent filmmaking community.”

Isabel will be central to leading the BFI’s response to the seismic changes across the film and screen landscape, as a distributor of BFI National Lottery good cause funding for filmmaking and talent development, and working with Government and UK and international stakeholders to ensure potential interventions and support are best placed to meet the evolving needs of the sector.

Given this is a position of significant influence in the UK independent film sector, Isabel’s appointment follows a rigorous and robust process, which saw a wide range and diverse pool of candidates considered and interviewed. To ensure independent voices from industry contributed to the decision, external panellists on the interviews included producers and BFI board members Elizabeth Karlsen and Hakan Kousetta, producer Nicky Bentham as co-chair of Pact’s Film Producers’ Group, while CEO Ben Roberts and Deputy CEO Harriet Finney were among those representing the BFI.

Isabel joins during an exciting year for the BFI Filmmaking Fund, with titles announced this week to world premiere at major upcoming festivals: Our Share of Sand (dir. Shalini Adnani) at Venice and Stuffed (dir. Theo Rhys) at Toronto International Film Festival. The Incomer (dir. Louis Paxton) opens the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) next month alongside Extra Geography (dir. Molly Manners), both of which previously world premiered at Sundance, while Out There (dir. Simon Ryninks) will have its world premiere in competition at EIFF. I See Building Fall Like Lightning (dir. Clio Barnard) premiered in Cannes and won the People’s Choice award in Directors’ Fortnight, Animol (dir. Ashley Walters) world premiered at the Berlinale winning the FIPRESCI prize for best film; and Lady (dir. Olive Nwosu) world premiered in Sundance Film Festival, winning the Special Jury Award for acting ensemble. Ish (dir. Imran Perretta) is released on Friday in cinemas UK-wide.