National Film and Television School appoints Judith Winnan as head of NFTS Wales

The National Film and Television School (NFTS) has announced it has appointed Judith Winnan, former chair of RTS Cymru Wales as Head of NFTS Wales, its latest new national hub.

The opening of NFTS Wales, in partnership with BBC Cymru Wales and Creative Wales, was announced in November 2020 and follows the success of hubs in Glasgow and Leeds in addition to the NFTS’ main site in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.  

With many years experience working within both the BBC and the independent sector in Wales, Judith Winnan is a successful executive producer, specialising in factual and arts documentaries. A former Chair of RTS Cymru Wales, she previously ran independent production company Fulmar West, was Head of Factual and Music at BBC Wales and has worked as a Commissioning Executive.  She won an RTS award for BBC Two series The Private Life of a Masterpiece and recent credits include The Story of Welsh Art for BBC Wales/BBC Four and Fake or Fortune? for BBC One.  

NFTS Wales will be based at BBC’s Central Square building in Cardiff and will focus its activity on supporting very recent graduates to acquire the higher-level skills required to either pursue postgraduate study or to successfully transition into the creative industries. Backed by funding from Creative Wales, the new national training centre will also support emerging talent and strengthen skills development.  

Judith Winnan, head of NFTS Wales commented: “The launch of NFTS Wales is really exciting and welcome news for the film, television and games industry here. I’m delighted to be appointed as its Head. The sector has been through a difficult time this last year but long term, it’s still growing and expanding with more and more production and commissioning based here. In providing the gold standard of training that the School is known for, NFTS Wales will be a key part of ensuring that we have people with the right skills to benefit from those opportunities and help them and the sector as a whole to thrive and develop further.”

Jon Wardle, NFTS director said: “We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Judith lead our expansion into Wales. With Wales now a global player in the entertainment industry, we look forward to providing individuals who aspire to work in the creative sector there with the training and development opportunities necessary to build an exciting career.”