Ffilm Cymru Wales appoints new Chair
Amanda Rees will lead Ffilm Cymru Wales’ Board from December, helping to steer the development agency for Welsh film through a new stage of its evolution.
A creative industries leader with a track record of delivering excellence across all aspects of her career, Amanda currently works as a Business Consultant, is an Executive Member of the Ofcom Advisory Committee for Wales and Vice Chair of development agency, Cwmpas. Prior to this, Amanda was Director of Content and subsequently Director of Platforms for Welsh broadcaster S4C, where she commissioned a multi-genre portfolio of programming before leading a new product and platform strategy to improve S4C’s digital offering.
Amanda’s credits as a BAFTA award-winning documentary filmmaker include Finding Mum and Dad and Revenge Porn for Channel 4. She has filmed in over 35 countries, producing factual programming for global channels such as National Geographic, BBC and the History Channel.
Amanda has a Master’s in Business and Organisational Psychology, is a former Cambridge University choral scholar, music graduate and a fluent Welsh speaker.
She says: “Rwy’ wrth fy modd gyda’r cyfle i ymuno ȃ Ffilm Cymru ar gyfnod o newid cyffrous. I’m delighted to be joining Ffilm Cymru Wales at such an exciting time, as audience consumption patterns change and converge, challenging the sector to be evermore creative in its story-telling and innovative in its business modelling. In such a shifting landscape, Ffilm Cymru Wales’ role in nurturing, supporting and developing a thriving Welsh film industry is more important than ever.
Heddiw mae gan Ffilm Cymru rôl bwysicach nag erioed ac rwy’n disgwyl ymlaen yn fawr at ymgymryd ȃ’r gwaith o hybu a dathlu’r diwydiant ffilm Cymraeg ar lwyfan rhyngwladol. I’m thrilled to be given this opportunity to play a part in championing the brilliant range and qualities of Welsh filmmaking talent on an international stage.”
Amanda joins at a busy time for the development agency for Welsh film; funded features Unicorns (Sally El Hosaini and James Krishna Floyd), Chuck Chuck Baby (Janis Pugh) and Kensuke’s Kingdom (Kirk Hendry and Neil Boyle) were released in UK cinemas this summer, while new productions Mr Burton and Madfabulous recently completed principal photography with support from Arts Council of Wales and Welsh Government via Creative Wales. Ffilm Cymru Wales is also currently running two of their Foot In The Door new entrant training programmes across Newport and Swansea with funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, supporting independent cinemas and film festivals to engage audiences in innovative ways, and investing in a number of new Greening The Screen projects in collaboration with Media Cymru.
Lee Walters, Ffilm Cymru Wales Chief Executive said “I’m delighted that Amanda will be joining us as Chair of Ffilm Cymru Wales. Throughout her career, Amanda has been a real advocate for the arts and brings to the role a wealth of leadership experience across the broadcast industry and beyond. I know that she shares our passion for championing Welsh talent on an international stage, and I very much look forward to working with her as we develop our strategic plans for the years ahead.”
Amanda will take up the role in December 2024.
