Film London is proud to reveal its Lodestars 2023 today (Thursday 15 June), the annual list honouring the innovative creators and practitioners to watch from across the capital. The 2023 Film London Lodestars will be celebrated at an event at Rich Mix, London.

With Lodestars known for their inspiration and guidance, the list celebrates those within Film, TV and Games who shine with outstanding creativity or craftsmanship, tipped to go on to ever greater works in coming years. Selected from a pool of hundreds of people, Lodestars reflects the breadth of talent across London’s screen industries, celebrating a variety of successes from festival circuits and distribution deals to community and environmental impact and gallery residencies. Film London Lodestars seeks to reinforce upcoming Londoners making great strides globally, putting London firmly on the map.

Since being established in 2019, our Lodestars have gone on to achieve critical and commercial acclaim. This includes:

Lodestar 2021 Molly Manning Walker’s directorial debut How to Have Sex featured at the Festival de Cannes 2023, winning the top prize in the Un Certain Regard selection. Lodestars in 2019, Director Dionne Edwards and Producer Georgia Goggin’s debut feature Pretty Red Dress releases in UK cinemas this week (June 16) after premiering at BFI London Film Festival 2022.

Marley Morrison and Michelle Antoniades (Lodestars 2020) debut feature Sweetheart won the Audience Award at the 2021 Glasgow International Film Festival, with Michelle winning Breakthrough Producer at the 2021 British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) and Lodestar 2020 Nell Barlow winning Breakthrough Performance for her role.

Lodestar 2019 Koby Adom has gone on to direct episodes of BBC’s Noughts and Crosses and Netflix’s Top Boy. Koby’s production company DBK Studios has recently partnered with Sky Studios on a short film series titled Unearthed Narratives. Lodestar 2019 Rubika Shah won the Grierson Award at the BFI London Film Festival 2019 for documentary White Riot, also receiving a Special Mention at the 2020 Berlin International Film Festival (Crystal Bear nominated).

Lodestar 2020 We Are Parable featured in Time Out Future Makers:50 Amazing People Changing Our World in 2021, whilst co-founder Anthony Andrews won the Arts and Media Senior Leader Award at the Black British Business Awards 2020. In March 2023, We Are Parable announced expansion plans to move into UK and international distribution.

The Film London Lodestars 2023 are:

Director

• Karl Jackson (Independence, BFI NETWORK)

• Alice Russell (If the Streets Were on Fire, PFM New Talent Strand 2019)

• Beru Tessema (Lions, BFI NETWORK)

Producer

• Gina Lyons (Go Away!, PFM New Talent Strand 2022)

• Jessica Palmarozza (Hard to Reach, BFI NETWORK)

• Gannesh Rajah (If the Streets Were on Fire, PFM New Talent Strand 2019)

Writer

• Theo James Krekis (Pram Snatcher, BFI NETWORK)

• Tracey Lopes (The Girls’ Room, BFI NETWORK)

• Toby Wharton (Held, BFI NETWORK)

• Aminder Virdee (My Eyes Are Up Here, BFI NETWORK)

Artist Filmmaker

• Max Colson (London Knowledge, FLAMIN Fellowship 2019/20)

• Mahenderpal Sorya (Too Tired for Anxiety, FLAMIN Fellowship 2021/22)

• Chris Zhongtian Yuan (All Trace Is Gone, No Clamour for A Kiss, FLAMIN Fellowship 2021/22)

Heads of Department

• Gillian Fox (Curator on FLAMIN-funded Stim Cinema project)

• Raluca Petre (Editor, The Riley Sisters, BFI NETWORK)

• Adam Singodia (Director of Photography, Goodnight Henry, BFI NETWORK)

Crew

• Tayo Odesanya (Director’s Assistant, Equal Access Network, All Voices programme)

• Jonell Rowe (First Assistant Director, Equal Access Network)

• Jenny Stimpson (Production Manager, Equal Access Network)

Animation

• Isabel Barfod (A Float, FLAMIN Animations commissioned artist)

• Ben Dawson (I Express Myself Best In Silence, FLAMIN Fellowship 2022/23)

• Jide Johnson (Obayifo, Presenter at UPstream 2023)

• Ronan Mackenzie (It’s Raining, It’s Pouring, FLAMIN Fellowship 2022/23)

Exhibitor

• The Castle Cinema (Film Hub London Member)

• Milktea (Film Hub London Member)

• The New Black Film Collective (Film Hub London Member, Film Hub London Advisory Panel Member)

Games

• Anna Hollinrake (Art Director and Game Developer, Games London Accelerator 2022)

• Yoyu Li (Producer and Narrative Designer, Games London Accelerator 2022 & Ensemble 2023)

• Nick Murray (Producer, Game Designer and Artist, Now Play This, part of London Games Festival)

London’s Screen Archives

• Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives (“Land of Arguments”)

A jury panel comprising London based industry professionals each representing distinct areas of expertise selected the final list:

• Dan Penfold - Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs, Warner Bros; Film London Board Member

• Julian Scott - Animation Consultant, Film London

• Nag Vladermersky - Executive Director, London International Animation Festival

• Eve Gabereau - Founder & CEO, Modern Films; Film London Board Member

• Lila Rawlings - Head of Creative (Film & TV), Esperanto Filmoj; Film London Board Member

• Richard Boffey - Head of AccessHE, London Higher; Creative Skills Academy partner

• Valeria Bullo - Production Inclusion and Well-being Director, Sony Pictures Entertainment

• Eddie McCaffrey - Senior Lecturer in Film Production, Middlesex University; Creative Skills Academy partner

• Saurabh Kakkar - Executive Producer, Big Talk; Film London Board Member

• Bennett McGhee - Co-CEO & Co-Founder, Home Team Productions; Film London Board Member

• Oliver Meek - Executive Director, Rio Cinema; Film London Board Member

• Hamish Moseley - Director of Distribution, Netflix; Film London Board Member

• James Dobrowski - Managing Director, Sharkmob London; London Games Festival Advisory Board Member

• María Sayans - CEO, ustwo Games; London Games Festival Advisory Board Member

• Nicola Pearcey - CEO, Picnik Entertainment; Film London Board Member

• Sara Putt - MD, Sara Putt Associates; Chair-designate of BAFTA

• Sharon Wallace - Head of Creative Industries Academy, Capital City College Group; Creative Skills Academy partner

• Emma Obank - Literary Agent, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates

The jury’s selection is based on criteria which takes into account the success and creativity around work already completed and the forward progression of each shortlisted talent. Consideration is given to three areas: Artistic Excellence, Creative Vision and Momentum.

Daniel Battsek, Chairman of Film4, said:

‘’London continues to lead the way as a world class hub for talent in film, TV and Games. I’m delighted to see this year’s list of Lodestars reflect the diverse communities of the capital and I have no doubt that they will play an important role in shaping the future of our screen industries with their work.’’

Bennett McGhee, Co-CEO & Co-Founder, Home Team Productions, said:

“Film London Lodestars has firmly established itself as a leading stage for breakthrough talent, with an already prolific history of identifying and championing some of the most exciting new filmmakers and voices in London and across the UK. This year continues in that rich vein. I’m excited for the filmmakers, for the event, for the industry at large.”

Find out more about each individual Film London Lodestar 2023 by clicking here.

With support from the Mayor of London, the National Lottery through the BFI and Arts Council England, Film London supports talent across London’s screen industries, from new entrants to established creators, with content ranging from narrative shorts to artists’ moving image.