Film London announce 2022 Lodestars

Film London is proud to reveal its Lodestars 2022, the annual list honouring the innovative creators and practitioners to watch from across the capital. The 2022 Film London Lodestars were celebrated at an in-person event at Rich Mix, London on Tuesday 28 June – the first physical edition since 2020.

With Lodestars known for their inspiration and guidance, the list celebrates those within Film, TV and Games who shine with outstanding creativity or craftsmanship, tipped to go on to ever greater works in coming years. Selected from a pool of hundreds of people, Lodestars reflects the breadth of talent across London’s screen industries, celebrating a variety of successes from festival circuits and distribution deals to community and environmental impact and gallery residencies. Film London Lodestars seeks to reinforce upcoming Londoners making great strides globally, putting London firmly on the map.

Since being established in 2019, our Lodestars have gone on to achieve critical and commercial acclaim. This includes:

Marley Morrison and Michelle Antoniades (Lodestars 2020) debut feature Sweetheart won the Audience Award at the 2021 Glasgow International Film Festival, with Michelle winning Breakthrough Producer at the 2021 British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) and Lodestar 2020 Nell Barlow winning Breakthrough Performance for her role.

Lodestar 2019 Koby Adom has gone on to direct episodes of BBC’s Noughts and Crosses and Netflix’s Top Boy. Koby’s production company DBK Studios has recently partnered with Sky Studios on a short film series titled Unearthed Narratives. Lodestar 2019 Rubika Shah won the Grierson Award at the BFI London Film Festival 2019 for documentary White Riot, also receiving a Special Mention at the 2020 Berlin International Film Festival (Crystal Bear nominated).

Lodestar 2020 We Are Parable featured in Time Out Future Makers:50 Amazing People Changing Our World in 2021, whilst co-founder Anthony Andrews won the Arts and Media Senior Leader Award at the Black British Business Awards 2020.

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The Film London Lodestars 2022 are:

Director

• Jenn Nkiru (Film London Jarman Award 2020 winner)
• John Ogunmuyiwa (Precious Hair & Beauty, BFI NETWORK)
• Hetain Patel (Film London Jarman Award 2019 winner)

Writer

• Marco Alessi (The Bower, BFI NETWORK)
• Calvin Demba (BabyDolls, BFI NETWORK)
• Ruth Greenberg (RUN, BFI NETWORK)
• Adjani Salmon (Mai Jeruom, BFI NETWORK)

Producer

• Sophia Gibber (Precious Hair & Beauty, BFI NETWORK)
• Martha Hood (CANVAS 5, BFI NETWORK)
• Tony Longe (Precious Hair & Beauty, BFI NETWORK)
• Jamie Macdonald (Goodnight Henry, BFI NETWORK)
• Tibo Travers (Leave to Remain, BFI NETWORK)

Artist Filmmaker

• Larry Achiampong (Film London Jarman Award 2021 shortlisted artist)
• Julia Parks (Seaweed, FLAMIN Fellowship 2020/21)
• Joseph Wilson (Isn’t It A Beautiful World, FLAMIN Fellowship 2020/21)

Head of Department

• Susan Kulkarni (Costume Designer, Equal Access Network, Breaking the Glass Ceiling)
• Edwin Mingard (Visual Artist, Animal Antics, FLAMIN Productions 2020)
• Ines Adriana (Sound Designer, RUN; Goodnight Henry; Mummys Present; Pram Snatchers, BFI NETWORK)

Performer

• Tomi Egbowon-Ogunjobi (Precious Hair & Beauty, BFI NETWORK)
• Jack Holden (The Rev, BFI NETWORK)
• Guy Oliver (Film London Jarman Award 2021 shortlisted artist)

Crew / Behind the Scenes

• Lee Chan Popo (Visual Effects Artist, Equal Access Network)
• Shaheen Schleifer (Post-production Supervisor, Equal Access Network, Return To Work)
• Yazmin Joy Vigus (HETV Director’s Assistant/ Writer/Director, Equal Access Network)

Exhibitor

• T A P E
• Queer East Film Festival
• Other Cinemas

Games

• Lili Ibrahim (Art Director and Games Artist, Games London Ensemble 2022)
• Taiwo Omisore (App Developer, Games London Ensemble 2022)

London’s Screen Archives

• Hackney Archives (Rubble With a Cause)

Adrian Wootton OBE, chief executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, said: “I am thrilled to congratulate the 2022 Lodestars, and to do so in-person! It’s a real pleasure to have such an incredibly high calibre of talent encompassing a wide range of sectors and practices under one roof, reflecting Film London’s relationship with creatives across the screen industries.

Now in its fourth iteration, Lodestars is proving to be a true marker of industry – and London – talent, with alumni going on to achieve mainstream distribution and critical recognition for their work and whilst doing so helping pave the way for others to follow suit. With the content boom still at large and thousands of job opportunities across the board, it is vital that we continue to support and champion new, bold and diverse voices and stories on and behind the screens. I am incredibly excited by the opportunities that await this year’s Lodestars.”

A jury panel comprising London based industry professionals each representing distinct areas of expertise selected the final list:

• Koby Adom (Writer/Director, Lodestar 2019)
• Anthony Andrews & Teanne Andrews (Co-founders, We Are Parable, Lodestar 2020)
• Rebecca Baker (Head of Equal Access Network, Film London)
• Yaw Basoah (Producer, Lodestar 2021)
• Paul Bowman (Head of Film Culture, Film London)
• Josic Cadoret (BFI Network Talent Executive)
• Caragh Davidson (BFI NETWORK Talent Programme Manager)
• Michael French (Head of Games London)
• Pinky Ghundale (Independent Artists’ Film Producer)
• Daniela Kirchner (COO, Film London)
• Jessica Loveland (Head of New Writing, BBC)
• Helena Mackenzie (Head of Inward Investment & Business Development, Film London)
• Lee Magiday (Producer)
• Jordan McGarry (Head of Talent Development and Production, Film London)
• Daniel Penfold (Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
• Duncan Poulton (Programme and Digital Officer, FLAMIN)
• Chris Rawcliffe (Artistic Director, Forma Arts)
• Josh Robertson (Writer/Performer, Lodestar 2021)
• Tyrone Walker-Hebborn (Director, Genesis Cinema, Lodestar 2021)
• Adrian Wootton (CEO, Film London and British Film Commission)
• Nileema Yesmin (Writer/director, Lodestar 2021)

The jury’s selection is based on criteria which takes into account the success and creativity around work already completed and the forward progression of each shortlisted talent. Consideration is given to three areas: Artistic Excellence, Creative Vision and Momentum.

Jessica Loveland, head of new writing at BBC said: “There is a wealth of exciting creative talent in the capital and Film London has once again done brilliant work identifying, championing and celebrating the incredible creatives in the city. Film London Lodestars has quickly become one of the most eagerly anticipated announcements across the screen industry and a real mark of creative excellence; it has been a great pleasure and a privilege to be involved in the jury process this year. Congratulations to all this year’s Lodestars, I can’t wait to see what they go on to do.”

Find out more about each individual Film London Lodestar 2022 via here.

With support from the Mayor of London, the National Lottery through the BFI and Arts Council England, Film London supports talent across London’s screen industries, from new entrants to established creators, with content ranging from narrative shorts to artists’ moving image.

Film London Lodestars 2022 is brought to you in partnership with Performance Film and Media Insurance with support from Garden Cinema, Shooting People, Usheru and Writers Retreat UK.