News Story
L-R: (Top) Kiln Theatre, Savvas Stavrou, Cecile Embleton, Beatka Wójciak, Rainbow Film Festival, Anna Engelhardt, Gisela Mulindwa, Georgie Yukiko Donovan, Genova Messiah, London International Animation Festival, (middle) Yasmine Djedje-Fisher-Azoume, Campbell Beaton, Emma Garrett, Helen Simmons, Etienne Joseph, Vanessa Rose, River Yuhao Cao, Vicki Brown, Sindi Breshani, (bottom) Sasha Nathwani, Elise Butt, Jasper Enujuba, Mary Martins, Becca Wolff, Caylan Samuel, Reedah El-Saie, Jack King, Edd Carr Oriane Pick.
Film London is proud to reveal its Lodestars 2025 Finalists today (Wednesday 29 January). Film London Lodestars is a programme celebrating the freshest, most exciting film-maker, creative and craftspeople talent. New for 2025, ten Lodestar Category Winners will be selected from a 30-strong list of finalists.
With Lodestars known for their inspiration and guidance, the short-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 spotlights upcoming Londoners making great strides globally, keeping the capital firmly on the creative map.
Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive of Film London, said:
“I’m thrilled to announce the Lodestars 2025 finalists. Lodestars is proving to be a true marker of industry – and London - talent, with alumni going on to achieve mainstream attention and critical recognition for their work, all while helping pave the way for others to follow suit. Previous Lodestars Alice Russell (director) and Gannesh Rajah (producer) won two BIFAs in Dec 2023 for If The Streets Were on Fire, Ronan Mackenzie premiered his FLAMIN Fellowship-funded animation Rain, Rain, Go Away in competition at London Short Film Festival 2025 and Gina Lyons (producer) went into production on her Production Finance Market New Talent Strand 22 feature Go Away! to name but a few achievements.
“Supporting and championing new, bold and diverse voices and stories, on and behind the camera, is part of Film London’s DNA. I am incredibly excited by the opportunities that await this year’s Lodestars.”
Find out more about each individual Film London Lodestar 2025 FinalistHERE.
The Film London Lodestars 2025 Finalists are:
- Yasmine Djedje-Fisher-Azoume
- Mary Martins
- Gisela Mulindwa
- Edd Carr
- Anna Engelhardt
- River Yuhao Cao
- Vicki Brown
- Caylan Samuel
- Georgie Yukiko Donovan
- Cecile Embleton
- Jack King
- Savvas Stavrou
- Kiln
- London International Animation Festival
- Rainbow Film Festival
- Sindi Breshani
- Reedah El-Saie
- Beatka Wójciak
- Elise Butt
- Jasper Enujuba
- Emma Garrett
- Campbell Beaton
- Oriane Pick
- Becca Wolff
- Etienne Joseph – Hackney Archives
- Diana Manipud – Brent Museum and Archives
- Genova Messiah – Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives
- Sasha Nathwani
- Vanessa Rose
- Helen Simmons
Daniel Battsek, Film London Chair and former Chairman of Film4, said:
“Lodestars is a moment in time to celebrate, shine a light on and be wowed by the sheer breadth of talent across London’s screen industries. Whatever part of the industry you work in, the people on the Film London Lodestars list are people you need to know about."
Film London Lodestars are selected by a jury of industry experts, drawn from across the disciplines of feature film, TV, video games, heritage film, artists moving image, cinema exhibition.
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.
