BFI appoints Denitsa Yordanova as head of UK Global Screen Fund

The BFI has announced Denitsa Yordanova as the new head of the recently launched UK Global Screen Fund.

Starting on 12 July, Denitsa will lead the UK Global Screen Fund team in promoting, delivering and growing the pilot fund, engaging with industry across the UK to support independent screen content to compete effectively in the international marketplace. Reporting into Neil Peplow, BFI Director of Industry & International Affairs, the role will work closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. 

Denitsa has over ten years of experience in the media and entertainment industry, across strategy, corporate development and investments, gained in leading corporate development and strategy roles, most recently in independent TV production at All3Media and Endemol Shine. 

Denitsa Yordanova said: “I am very excited to join the team and to build on the successful launch of the UK Global Screen Fund, expanding its reach and influence. This is a unique opportunity to make a difference to the UK screen sector at a time of great change, as the sector adapts to the impact of COVID-19 and a new global perspective. I am humbled and honoured to take on this role and be able to support talented UK creatives working in film, TV, animation, documentary and interactive narrative games, across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, to achieve their full potential on the international stage.”

Neil Peplow, BFI director of Industry & International Affairs, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Denitsa is joining us to lead the UK Global Screen Fund team. With the fund’s key objective of increasing the international export income and reach of UK screen content and business, Denitsa’s wealth of experience and background in commercial TV and media strategy, together with her passion for film, provides a perfect combination for this fund and its ambitions. I look forward to welcoming Denitsa to the team.”  

Denitsa was previously EVP Corporate Development at All3 Media and Head of Strategy & Corporate Development at Endemol Shine. Prior to this, she was responsible for business development and investment initiatives at Guardian Media Group, parent company of the Guardian newspaper, and helped spearhead its venture investment strategy and manage an investment fund of over £1 billion. Denitsa holds degrees from Colgate University and Stanford Graduate School of Business in the US, and a degree in Film and Media Studies from Birkbeck University in London.

Denitsa joins the UK Global Screen Fund at a pivotal  time. With each of the three open access funding strands now launched and open for application across International Distribution, International Business Development and International Co-production, UK screen businesses have a unique opportunity to boost their competitiveness and forge new collaborations and international partnerships.

Funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and administered by the BFI, the UK Global Screen Fund is also driving a new international promotional campaign. Set to launch later in the year, and unveiling a new brand strategy, the major campaign will showcase independent UK screen content through multi-territory promotion of talent, content and companies.

Work is also under way on research into a new data hub, exploring the possibility of providing international data that can allow financiers, screen content creators, sales agents and distributors to make better-informed decisions, establishing an evidence base to compete internationally, and thereby enhancing the UK screen sector’s global opportunities.