Isabel Davis has been appointed director of the BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Funds, taking over from Mia Bays later this year. The role oversees a £20 million ($26.6m) annual fund dedicated to supporting a culturally vibrant, inclusive and original independent film sector in the UK, making the appointment significant for the future direction of British film funding at a challenging economic moment for the industry.

Davis joins in October on a five-year fixed term, arriving from Screen Scotland, where she spent eight years as executive director helping transform and grow the Scottish screen industry. She replaces Bays, who has led the fund since 2021 and backed films including Kneecap, My Father's Shadow and Two Black Boys in Paradise. Davis's appointment followed a rigorous, diverse recruitment process involving industry panellists such as producers Elizabeth Karlsen, Hakan Kousetta and Nicky Bentham alongside BFI executives Ben Roberts and Harriet Finney. She takes over during a strong year for BFI-backed titles, with several premiering at major festivals including Venice, Toronto, Cannes and Edinburgh.