The BFI today announces the 15 writers, directors and producers selected for this year’s edition of BFI NETWORK@LFF. The annual flagship professional development programme running as part of the BFI London Film Festival (LFF), is designed to support and inspire new and distinctive filmmaking voices.
Fifteen of the boldest and brightest early career filmmakers across fiction and documentary have been selected based on the strength and quality of their body of work and because their career trajectories and debut features in development have the potential to make an impact. This year’s cohort are a group of storytellers with fresh perspectives and reflect the programme’s aim to champion underrepresented voices and stories from across the UK. They are also an example of the exciting range of filmmaking styles and approaches within the emerging UK screen industry.
A talent development programme at the very heart of the LFF, BFI NETWORK@LFF’s cohort of UK-based writers, directors and producers participate in an intensive programme of masterclasses, screenings and events with industry professionals. The programme is delivered by BFI NETWORK with support from BFI Doc Society Fund and is made possible thanks to National Lottery funding.
Following the LFF, the cohort will regroup in Spring 2027 for further tailored sessions expanding the Lab following feedback from previous participants. BFI NETWORK@LFF is focused on ambitious filmmakers who are poised to make a significant impact in the industry. The programme aims to support the next step in their careers and offers an opportunity to foster new industry connections and utilise the knowledge and experience of more established filmmakers, to inspire the cohort and to further develop their feature projects.
Alice Cabañas, Head of BFI NETWORK, says, “Another year of very strong applications from across the UK has made me feel very encouraged about the future talent driving the UK’s film industry forward. It also means we have a very strong and exciting cohort of filmmakers – providing them with a vital pathway to support the next generation of leading UK filmmakers. We’re developing a programme during LFF and early next year which I believe will help develop their creative practice and careers, their projects and their networks.”
BFI NETWORK@LFF has built a strong track record with alumni establishing successful careers, developing award-winning features and finding roles within television and beyond. Alumni with debut films screening at this year’s LFF include writer/director Billy Lumby with Florid, Alex Polunin as a producer on Lady and Black Church Bay, and writer/director Rafael Manuel with Filipñana. Other alumni include writer/director Harry Lighton, whose debut Pillion won Best Screenplay when it premiered in Un Certain Regard in Cannes and went on to win four BIFAs, Akinola Davies Jr., writer/director of My Father’s Shadow, which also World Premiered in Cannes where he received the Caméra d’Or Special Mention and a BAFTA® for Outstanding Debut for Akinola Davies Jr. and co-writer Wale Davies, producer Helen Simmons whose recent films include 100 Nights of Hero directed by Julia Jackson, writer/director Sandhya Suri, whose narrative debut was the BIFA award-winning Santosh, and Aleem Khan, writer/director of BAFTA®-winning After Love.
Filmmakers selected for BFI NETWORK@LFF 2026
Carley Armstrong | Producer | North
Carley is a North East–based producer, BAFTA Connect member and NFTS Feature Film Lab Alumna. She has participated in a range of industry programmes and markets, including Mission Accomplished’s First Feature Producer Lab with The Fold, and supported by BFI National Lottery funding, ScreenSkills ‘Step up to First Feature’ with 104 Films, IFFR Pro Rotterdam, the UK Next Wave Genre Lab, the European Genre Forum, UK Global Screen Fund Co-production Workshop and the Frontières Co-Production Market at the Fantasia International Film Festival with Faye Jackson’s horror feature, THEY. Her recent short film A WOMAN OF GOOD ABILITIES, directed by Mark Chapman was nominated for the Thelma Schoonmaker Prize at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, and her debut feature as a producer AMAZING GRACE, is due for release by Screen Bound later this year. Carley is currently producing her second feature film Andy and Orson, with MetFilm launching worldwide sales at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Dáša Raimanová | Director| London
Dáša is a London-based documentary director/producer originally from Slovakia, whose work explores socio-political topics. Her short documentaries THE EXHIBITION (2026) and GYPSY GADJI (2024) screened on festivals across Europe. She recently completed THE FLOTILLA DIARIES for AJ Witness. Since 2018, Dáša has worked for the documentary department at Deutsche Welle (DW) in Berlin for which she directed and produced several short docs including RICH & POOR with 1 Million online views and ACROSS THE ROAD – WORLDS APART that broadcast in nine European countries. She is alumni of EsoDoc, GoEast Talent, DokLab Poland and Dok Incubator (observer).
Dorottya Szekely | Producer | London
Dorottya is a British-Hungarian producer recognised with Screen Awards’ Rising Star Award, Amazon’s Prime Video EMEA Award, the BFI Doc Society ‘Made of Truth’ Grant, and the Netflix Documentary Talent Grant. She is drawn to stories exploring identity, belonging, and cultural hybridity. As a BAFTA Connect member, she produced Jack Holden’s narrative short SAFARI and Albie Swingler’s short documentaries, MISS SARAJEVO RETURNS (Doc Society, The Guardian), and THE GARDEN WE MADE (Netflix). At My Accomplice, she is developing a feature slate including Lottie Graham’s JEM (BFI), Ajuán Isaac-George’s DUPPY (Film London New Talent, Cannes’ Frontières) and Sheila Nortley’s OSORO. Dorottya is currently producing her first feature film, Andy & Orson, for her production label Varga Pictures.
Iqbal Mohammed | Writer-Director | North
Iqbal is an award-winning writer/director from Yorkshire whose work has been supported by the BFI NETWORK and BBC Film. His films, including the BFI-funded TASBEEH, and his latest BBC Film/NFTS project, MY LITTLE BLUE HEART, have screened at multiple Oscar and BAFTA-qualifying festivals. Iqbal is Edinburgh International Film Festival Talent Lab and Sean Connery Talent Lab alum. He was also selected for BBC x Film hub North director’s shadowing scheme with Sister Productions. His work focuses on emotional, character-driven stories rooted in contemporary British Muslim experiences.
Kaki Wong | Director | London
Kaki graduated from the London Film School – MA in Filmmaking in March 2018. Kaki is a Berlinale Talents, Golden Horse Film Academy and Locarno Filmmakers Academy alumni and a BAFTA Connect member. Her short film WILD CHILD (2020) has won the Fresh Wave Award at 14th Fresh Wave International Short Film Festival, short film FIRE ROOM (2022) has been shortlisted for Sony Future Filmmakers Awards 2023. Her debut feature film I HEARD THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SEE EACH OTHER ANYMORE is a hybrid non-fiction which premiered at CPH:DOX 2026 Next:Wave Competition.
Lia Campbell | Writer-Director-Producer | Northern Ireland
After graduating from the Irish National Film School (Dún Laoghaire Institute of Arts, Technology and Design) in 2020, Lia now works as a director and producer across fiction and documentary. Her short film SHEE, made in collaboration with writer Aduda Hera and Dumbworld Productions, was commissioned by the British Council and funded by the BFI NETWORK. She has two feature-documentary projects in development with Northern Ireland Screen THE UNREST COLLECTIVE and RUN FOR HER. Originally from Belfast, Lia has lived in Dublin, Berlin and Cologne and is particularly drawn to stories exploring social identity and emancipation.
Lindsay Fraser | Producer | London
Lindsay is an award-winning producer creating bold, socially driven work and championing underrepresented voices. Her shorts have been supported by BFI NETWORK and screened at numerous BAFTA- and Oscar-qualifying festivals, including BAFTA-Rocliffe-winning LIVERPOOL FERRY; KILLING THINGS, which is about to begin its festival run; CARE, supported by The Uncertain Kingdom and First Flights; and as Associate Producer GOODBYE PYTHON nominated for the Iris Prize. Lindsay is developing an exciting feature slate with filmmakers including Jessi Gutch, Scott Pickup, Amelia Sears and Jo Lewis, while working with producers Sarah Sehdev (BOILING POINT), Richard Holmes (GOD’S OWN COUNTRY) and Marauder Pictures.
Lisa Clarkson | Writer-Director | Scotland
Lisa is a screenwriter-director from Scotland. Her short film PATERNAL ADVICE, commissioned by BFI NETWORK, Screen Scotland and Short Circuit, produced by Ossian, won the 2025 BAFTA Scotland Award in the Short Film and Animation category, as well as The Scottish Short Film Award at Glasgow Short Film Festival 2025 and Best Fiction at This is England Film Festival 2025. Lisa has several distinctive projects in development, both film and TV. Lisa is a graduate of The National Film and Television School’s Directing Fiction MA (Beaconsfield), Screen Academy Scotland (MA Screenwriting) and The University of Edinburgh (MA English Literature).
Luís Hindman | Writer-Director | South East
A BAFTA-nominated and BIFA-winning filmmaker, who was recently announced as a 2026 Screen Star of Tomorrow, Luís is a writer-director of South Asian and Northern Irish descent. His work first recognised in 2015 when he received the ‘One to Watch’ award from Into Film. In the following years, Luís worked as a music video director, most notably directing the UKMVA-nominated ‘Permanent Damage’ project. He returned to narrative filmmaking with MAGID / ZAFAR (2025), supported by Future Takes backed by BFI and FILM4. The film premiered at the 2025 BFI London Film Festival, was nominated for a BAFTA and won the BIFA for Best British Short. Luís is now developing his feature film projects with BFI and FILM4.
Saul Abraham | Writer-Director | London
Saul is a half Finnish, half British award-winning director from Hackney. His Oscar® qualifying short film ENJOY starring Himesh Patel premiered at Tribeca, going on to win awards at Academy/BAFTA recognised festivals worldwide. The film was acquired by Disney+. Nominated for the Future Filmmaker Award at Sony Pictures in LA, his documentary MOSES: STRONGMAN, produced by Idris Elba for the BBC, placed Saul on the BBC New Talent Hotlist. His commercials and music videos have been recognised by British Arrows, Creative Circle, Shark Awards, BMVAs, 1.4 Awards and more. He is developing his debut feature with 42M&P & Embankment Films.
Sophie King | Writer-Director | Midlands
Sophie is a director and writer creating darkly comedic, visually distinctive stories. A BAFTA Connect and Cinesisters member, her work has been praised by Time Out, The Guardian and The Times and top festivals globally. She has directed work for C4 and ITV with awards including Best Newform Series at the C21 International Drama Awards and the Edinburgh TV Festival New Voices Scripted Director Award. Sophie is mentored by Dearbhla Walsh (BAD SISTERS) through DirectorsUK Inspire. Sophie’s debut feature, GRO(CERIES), co-written with Chinenye Ezeudu, is part of the Glasgow Film Festival’s Funny Features lab backed by BFI and Curzon, and Frontières and will shoot in February 2027.
Theo Watkins | Writer-Director | South West
Theo is a Bristol-based writer-director whose work blends an experimental sensibility, off-kilter humour and character-driven storytelling to explore the uncomfortable and absurd aspects of the human condition. His short films have screened internationally at festivals including Leeds, Encounters and Palm Springs ShortFest, with backing from IMDb Script to Screen Award and BFI NETWORK. His latest work won Best Experimental Film at BAFTA-qualifying Manchester Film Festival, and he is currently developing his debut feature.
Toby Parker Rees | Writer-Director | South West
Toby Parker Rees is a writer-director from Exmouth. He wrote WET LOOK for Channel 4, which was named a Critic’s Pick by major UK newspapers, including The Guardian, which described it as “sweet and smart” and The Times, which praised its use of mythology as a metaphor for disability. The film was nominated for Best Single Drama at the Broadcast Awards and earned Toby a nomination for Best Debut Writer at the Edinburgh TV Awards. Toby was selected for Glasgow Film Festival’s Funny Features Lab (backed by the BFI Curzon) to develop his debut feature film, with advanced development funding from Ffilm Cymru. He is also developing a feature with producer Anna Keeley of Escape Plan through the 104 Films D-Horror Lab. Toby is represented by Lark Management.
Vicki Rock | Producer| Northern Ireland
Vicki is a Belfast-based producer and Co-Director of Enter Yes Studios, producing original films and international co-productions with a focus on distinctive, character-driven stories and emerging talent. With a background in VFX and animation production, she has worked across independent film and high-end television for clients including Netflix, BBC, Sony, and Warner Bros., overseeing projects from development to delivery. Vicki has produced award-winning short films recognised by the IFTAs and longlisted for the BAFTAs and Oscars. In 2026, she participated in the ACE Animation Special Workshop and EAVE On Demand, developing two original projects.
Yero Timi-Biu | Writer-Director | London
Yero is a multiple award-winning writer and director for TV, film, and audio. Most recently, Yero was lead director of the final series of BBC’s hit comedy-drama, BOARDERS and received an RTS Breakthrough Talent nomination for her directing of BAFTA award-winning historical drama, THREE LITTLE BIRDS. She has developed, written and directed projects internationally for HBO, BFI, Amazon, Netflix, BBC, Channel 4, Sky, Audible and ITV. Selected shorts including ESSEX GIRLS, SIGNS, and BENEATH THE SURFACE have played in competition at festivals such as Sundance, BFI London Film Festival, and Palm Springs. Yero is developing her debut feature film thriller
