Seghatchian quits to return to filmmaking

by Naman Ramachandran

14/09/2011 - Tanya Seghatchian (pictured), currently Head of the Film Fund at the British Film Institute (BFI), has resigned in order to return to filmmaking.

Seghatchian was earlier head of Development at the erstwhile UK Film Council where she shepherded several award-winning films including The King’s Speech [trailer, film focus], Bright Star [trailer], Fish Tank [trailer, film focus], Wuthering Heights [trailer, film focus] and Shame [trailer]. Before that Seghatchian was a producer, pivotal in the development of the Harry Potter franchise. In 2005, she won a BAFTA for producing Pawel Pawlikowski’s My Summer of Love [trailer, film focus].

Seghatchian said, “In a spectacular year for British film, we’ve backed great British filmmakers and some strong new voices. Our films are currently enjoying critical success and major festival exposure ahead of the awards season, as well as taking money at the box office. But even so, four years determining the tone and direction of Lottery backed investment in British film is long enough. Having overseen the transition of the Film Fund from the UK Film Council to the BFI, I feel that it’s time for someone else to be the public sector champion for the remarkable filmmaking talent we have in the UK and I wish the BFI every success in the future.”

BFI CEO Amanda Nevill said, “Tanya has made a huge contribution to the UK film industry. She brings a rare balance of independence of vision, commercial instinct and cultural understanding, and she has a real eye for backing talent. Tanya’s heart lies in filmmaking and she will undoubtedly go on to make some great films; we look forward to working with her.”