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BFI names Isabel Davis as new filmmaking fund director
Developed over time first seen 4 months ago
Isabel Davis has been appointed director of the BFI Filmmaking Fund, taking over from Mia Bays in October 2026. The five-year role places her in charge of a major source of public support for UK independent film at a time of economic and structural pressure on the sector.
Davis joins after eight years as executive director of Screen Scotland and previously held senior roles at the BFI, including head of international. BFI chief executive Ben Roberts said her experience and UK-wide outlook would benefit filmmakers, while Davis said the fund must help ambitious work reach broad audiences; films supported under Bays have included Kneecap and BAFTA-winning short Two Black Boys in Paradise.
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In short
- Isabel Davis will lead the BFI Filmmaking Fund from October 2026.
- She succeeds Mia Bays after eight years at Screen Scotland.
- The role oversees vital public support for independent UK film.
How this story developed
- 4 months ago The confirmed appointment details remained unchanged from the initial announcement, with the BFI reiterating Davis's five-year term, her return from eight years leading Screen Scotland, and the recruitment panel's praise for her UK-wide outlook, while Davis's own quoted pledge to champion the nations and English regions was no longer featured.
- 4 months ago Isabel Davis was named the new Director of the BFI Filmmaking Fund, set to start in October 2026 and succeed Mia Bays, who has run the fund since 2021, at a time described as financially difficult for independent British film despite strong audience and talent numbers.
Explained simply
Cinema in the UK has faced a difficult few years financially, even though audiences still turn out for films and British filmmaking talent continues to produce acclaimed work. Public support for independent film production is coordinated through bodies such as the British Film Institute (BFI), which distributes funding to help get films made. One of its key funding schemes is the BFI Filmmaking Fund, which backs British films from development through to production.
The person in charge of that fund plays a significant role in deciding which independent films get made in the UK, making the position an influential one in the industry. The fund has previously supported a range of British films that went on to gain recognition at festivals and awards, and continues to back new projects seeking backing this year.
The BFI is led by chief executive Ben Roberts, supported by deputy chief executive Harriet Finney, and works alongside national bodies such as Screen Scotland, which supports film and television production in Scotland specifically.
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Originally published by Deadline as “Isabel Davis Appointed Director Of The BFI Filmmaking Fund”.