Farhana Bhula is the new director of Film4, U.K. broadcaster Channel 4‘s feature film division, the company said on Tuesday.
Bhula has served as interim director of Film4 since July, following the news of Ollie Madden’s departure. “She will take up the role immediately, following an extensive external recruitment process,” Channel 4 said.
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The executive joined Film4 in January 2022 as senior commissioning executive, later becoming head of creative & deputy director. She has overseen such film projects as Molly Manning Walker’s debut feature How to Have Sex, Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers, plus such upcoming titles as Mark Jenkin’s Rose of Nevada, Oliver Hermanus’ The History of Sound, and Philippa Lowthorpe’s H Is for Hawk.
Bhula launched Future Takes in partnership with the BFI, currently in its second iteration, to support and nurture emerging talent.
“Following the success of How to Have Sex, Molly Manning Walker has reunited with the channel on her upcoming TV series Major Players with A24, which Farhana will work on alongside the Channel 4 drama team,” the broadcaster said on Tuesday. “Farhana will remain on Channel 4’s executive team and senior leadership team, reporting to Martin Baker, chief commercial affairs officer, who has assumed interim responsibility for Film4 under [Channel 4] interim CEO Jonathan Allan and led the external recruitment process.”
Said Allan: “Farhana has been a key part of Film4’s success for the last three years, working closely with Ollie Madden. I am delighted that Farhana will take on this hugely important role after a rigorous and competitive external recruitment process. Farhana’s experience within Film4, dedication to emerging talent and her established industry relationships will deliver a new exciting era and success for our filmmakers and the Film4 brand on the world stage.”
Bhula herself said: “Film4 has long been the home of original, daring filmmaking that truly cuts through. Under the dynamic and inspiring leadership of Ollie Madden, and alongside the passionate Film4 team, I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the most exciting writers, directors, and producers in the world.”
She concluded: “It’s an honor to now lead Film4 into its next chapter. With a mandate to take creative risks, an ambition to connect British filmmakers with global audiences, and the support of Jonathan Allan, Martin Baker, and the exceptional Channel 4 executive team, there really is no place like Film4.”
Bhula previously served as a senior development and production executive at the BFI, where she supported emerging talent, working on such debuts as Charlotte Regan’s Scrapper, Dionne Edwards’ Pretty Red Dress, and Ben Sharrock’s Limbo. She also held positions at Wildgaze Films and Endor Productions.
Her other key credits include Wild Horse Nine by Martin McDonagh, Rose of Nevada by Mark Jenkin, Sacrifice by Romain Gavras, Thea Sharrock’s Wicked Little Letters, and Kaouther Ben Hania‘s The Voice of Hind Rahab.
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