About WFTV

Women in Film & TV (UK) is the leading membership organisation for women working in creative media in the UK and part of an international network of over 12,000 women. Members of our organisation come from a broad range of professions spanning the entire film and television industry.

We host a variety of online and in person events throughout the year, present a prestigious awards ceremony every December and run a four nations mid-career mentoring programme for women. We also collaborate with industry bodies on research projects, run bursary initiatives and lobby for women’s interests.

As part of WFTV (UK)’s commitment to building and developing international relationships, WFTV (UK) also hosts an annual reception at the Cannes Film Festival for members across the world.

KATIe bailiff

CEO

Claudia merhej

Senior Awards and

Events Producer

SCARLET BREARLEY

Regional Events and Awards Producer

BECKY KEMPSON

London Events and Awards Producer

NINA BHALLA

Marketing and Communications Manager

LAURA VENNING

Membership and Office Administrator

MEET THE TEAM

Tracy Forsyth

Director of Mentoring Programme

Sarah McCaffrey

Mentoring Producer,

Northern Ireland

KAReN KELLY

Mentoring Producer, Scotland

Hannah Corneck

Mentoring Producer, Wales

MENTORING TEAM

LIZ TUCKER,

CHAIR

Producer, MD

VAL CAZALET, TREASURER

Accountant

VICTORIA GASKELL, COMPANY SECRETARY

Lawyer

ADE RAWCLIFFE

Head of Diversity,

ITV Commissioning

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JACQUI FARNHAM

Journalist, Filmmaker & Writer

CHERYLEE HOUSTON

Actor

ALISON MILLER

Director,

Erica Starling Productions

JANE PRESTON

Director, Producer & Journalist

GURINDER CHADHA OBE

Director

ELIZABETH KARLSEN

Producer

SANDI TOKSVIG OBE

Writer and Broadcaster

PATRONS

DAWN AIREY

DAME JOAN

BAKEWELL

BARBARA

BROCCOLI OBE

ANDREW DAVIES

MICHAEL

GRADE CBE

HONORARY MEMBERS

STEPHEN

FREARS

BARONESS JAY OF PADDINGTON PC

BARONESS HELENA KENNEDY QC, FRSA

DAME HELEN MIRREN

THE HISTORY OF WFTV

In 1989, a group of women came together for the first WFTV (UK) meeting. A mix of executives, creatives and performers, they included Lynda La Plante, Norma Heyman, Jenne Casarotto, Dawn French, Joan Collins and Janet Street-Porter. These were all women who enjoyed career success but knew that the male-dominated industry needed to fundamentally change if women were to be truly equal. They resolved to take positive action and follow in the footsteps of organisations in Los Angeles and New York City established in the ’70s to support women working in the film and TV industries. They did this by creating a network of members and organising workshops, events, and mentoring to help them progress in their careers.

In 1990, the first Women in Film awards ceremony was held to recognise the achievements of some of the most successful women the industry could boast. Thirty years on, the WFTV Awards is the largest annual celebration of women working in film, TV and digital media in the UK – tickets to the prestigious event sell out in minutes.

Today, WFTV (UK) continues to expand and build upon the vital work of that original group of women. Over the years we have seen improvements within the industry but there’s still a long way to go. We hope that you will become a part of our organisation’s history and help us to make the creative-media industries’ future fairer for all.