The 2003 Jury

Daniel Battsek

Senior Vice-President

Buena Vista International (UK) Ltd

1978 - 82 'The Hoyts Film Corporation' Sydney, Australia
1982 Returned to England and joined Palace Video Limited.
1985 Appointed to run off-spring of the above, namely Palace Pictures Film Distribution Company.
1988 Promoted to Managing Director with responsibility for all aspects of Marketing/Distribution in UK & Ireland.
1991 Approached by The Walt Disney Company to start-up UK Company as part of world-wide distribution network for BVI.
March 1992 Became Vice President, Managing Director of Buena Vista International (UK) Limited.
Jan 1995 Promoted to Vice President, Managing Director and European Acquisitions Director of BVI (UK) Limited.
Oct 1998 Promoted to Senior Vice President, BVI (UK) Limited
April 1999 Set-up the BVI UK Comedy Label, which to date has produced 3 features, High Heels and Low Lifes (2001), Hope Springs and Calendar Girls (both released 2003).

Peter Watson

Managing Director

Recorded Picture Company

One of the UK's most consistent producers of high quality independent cinema, RPC has a long history of working with some of world's most distinguished directors (including Bernardo Bertolucci, David Cronenberg, Takeshi Kitano and Philip Noyce) and, in the past few years, of developing new British director talent (Jonathan Glazer, David McKenzie). Watson was an instrumental force behind RPC's renaissance in the late 1990s and is a co founder and deputy chairman of HanWay, RPC's sister international sales company. Watson's relationship with the film business first began in the City where he spent four years at the Entertainment Finance Division of Guinness Mahon & Co. He is currently executive producing RPC's production of Richard Linklater's FAST FOOD NATION, which starts shooting in Texas this October. His other producing credits include Jonathan Glazer's SEXY BEAST, Takeshi Kitano's BROTHER, Bernardo Bertolucci's THE DREAMERS, David McKenzie's YOUNG ADAM and Terry Gilliam's TIDELAND. He is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin (BBS, MA). In January 2004, he was made a governor of the British Film Institute.

Tracey Scoffield

Director

Rainmark Films

Tracey Scoffield joined the television industry as a trainee to William G. Stewart on light entertainment shows, and was associate producer of Jonathan Ross' debut show The Last Resort for Channel 4, before moving into drama development and working for Colin Callender at the Callender Co. She then sidestepped the industry for eight years by joining publishing house Faber and Faber, where she ran the films and plays list, setting up the screenplay publishing initiative and working with directors such as Martin Scorsese and the late Louis Malle and Krzysztof Kieslowski. Ms. Scoffield then joined the BBC as a Script Editor, becoming Head of Development and Executive Producer for BBC Films. In the latter capacity, she has executive-produced Richard Loncraine's award-winning THE GATHERING STORM (broadcast in the U.S. on HBO), Stephen Frears' DIRTY PRETTY THINGS, Roger Michell's THE MOTHER, and Michael Winterbottom's A COCK AND BULL STORY.
In 2005 she left the BBC to set up Rainmark Films, a television and film production company based in London, with producer Frank Doelger. In 2007, their production slate includes: PRIMO, A NUMBER, MY ZINC BED, CHURCHILL AT WAR and THE OTHER MAN, a feature film to be directed by Richard Eyre.

Bill Nighy

Actor

An actor with vast experience in theatre, television and film, credits include THE LAWLESS HEART, I CAPTURE THE CASTLE, FAIRY TALE, LUCKY BREAK, STILL CRAZY and AKA. Most recently seen in STATE OF PLAY, a mini series for BBC TV. Upcoming projects include LOVE ACTUALLY, UNDERWORLD and SHAUN OF THE DEAD.
Bill was nominated as British Independent Film Award Best Actor for his performance in THE LAWLESS HEART in 2002.

Colin Vaines

Executive Vice-President, European Production and Development

Miramax

Began his career in the film industry in 1977 as a journalist with the trade paper Screen International. In 1984, he left journalism to run the UK's National Film Development Fund, and act as consultant to parent body British Screen Finance.
In 1987, he oversaw UK development for Columbia Pictures during David Puttnam's tenure at the studio, subsequently becoming head of development for Puttnam's own production company, Enigma, where he worked on movies including MEMPHIS BELLE.
He made his debut as a producer in 1992 with the Emmy-winning TV film A DANGEROUS MAN: LAWRENCE AFTER ARABIA, starring Ralph Fiennes.
After co-producing Michael Radford's B.MONKEY, Vaines supervised production and development for UK lottery franchise The Film Consortium from 1997 to 1999, overseeing movies including HIDEOUS KINKY, starring Kate Winslet.
He was appointed executive vice-president, development for New York-based Miramax Films in 1999. Most recently, he was co-executive producer of Martin Scorsese's GANGS OF NEW YORK.
In October 2002, he took up his new appointment as executive vice-president, European production and development for Miramax, working out of the company's London office.

Meera Syal

Actress/Comedienne/Writer

Over the past decade, actress, comedienne, novelist and playwright, Meera Syal has become one of the most talented, exciting and experimental women in the media. Her award winning novels Anita & Me and Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee are loved by both critics and the public alike. Her hysterical but accurate portrayal of the Asian community in television shows such as Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at Number 42 have enthralled audiences of all ethnic backgrounds.
To date, she is the recipient of several major awards, including a British Comedy Award, RTS Award, (both for Goodness Gracious Me), a BAFTA, (for the short film, It's Not Unusual) and a MBE for her services to The Arts in a career that spans acting, comedy, novel and screenwriting and journalism. In 2001 she was awarded both the RIMA Media Personality of the year and the Asian Women of Achievement Chairman's Award.
Recently BAFTA nominated for her portrayal of Ummi in THE KUMARS AT NUMBER 42. Recent writing credits include: BOLLYWOOD DREAMS, ANITA & ME and LIFE ISN'T ALL HA HA HEE HEE which she is currently adapting for a television series

Roman Osin

Cinematographer

Roman followed his first class B.A.Hons in Film and Photography at the London College of Printing with a short career as a director of music videos. This lead him to be commissioned by the Arts Council for three dance films. Simultaneously he ran exhibitions of his Photographic work extensively in London, culminating in a show at the Photographers Gallery.
He did his time at the National Film School and has been shooting documentaries, drama, music videos and commercials since graduating in 1995. His work includes CHANNEL 4's visually energetic NO TURN LEFT UNSTONED, a documentary on the PRETENDERS, HOW I BECAME INDIAN, which won the 1996 David Atshul award and the 96 Silver Hugo at Chicago Film Festival and SPINDRIFT which won the 1997 Panorama best Short at Berlin Film Festival.
Roman first partnered with Asif Kapadia on the director's short film SHEEP THIEF which won 3 awards as best film in festivals Poitier, Brestand and Tel Aviv. SHEEP THIEF was also runner up for palm d'or at Cannes and distinguished itself with a Special Prize for Cinematography at Cinema Texas Festival 97. On the back of this success Roman and Asif partnered once more on THE WARRIOR which garnered 2 awards for best cinematography and some 6 awards for best film including 2 BIFAs and 2 BAFTAs.
Recent credits include UNDER THE STARS, BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY and I AM DAVID. Roman is currently filming his latest project in Northern Ireland.

Kevin Macdonald

Director

A documentary filmmaker. Since completing his multi-award winning debut, ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER, Kevin MacDonald's credits include a small film about one of his filmmaking heroes, the war time poet and film-maker Humphrey Jennings (LISTEN TO BRITAIN, FIRES WERE STARTED, etc.), a documentary with and about Mick Jagger - BEING MICK, and a feature length documentary about Donald Cammell - the
director of PERFORMANCE. Kevin has recently completed a new feature documentary called TOUCHING THE VOID for Film Four , Film Council and Channel Four.

Lindy King

Actor

Peters Fraser & Dunlop

Lindy King has been an agent for more years than she cares to remember. She has worked for both large agencies and small and is currently a director of PFD. She is passionate about film, theatre, new writing - and the discovery of new talent in any field.

Tom Hollander

Actor

Tom Hollander grew up in Oxford, went to school locally and read English Literature at Cambridge. As a boy he was a member of the National Youth Theatre and the National Youth Music Theatre. While at university, he was a member of the Cambridge Footlights Revue, and played a much-celebrated Cyrano De Bergerac at the Arts Theatre, directed by Sam Mendes.
His early career was primarily theatre based. Film credits include: MARTHA, MEET FRANK, DANIEL AND LAWRENCE, ENIGMA, POSSESION, THE LAWLESS HEART and GOSFORD PARK
Recent projects include: King George V in Stephen Poliakoff's landmark BBC drama THE LOST PRINCE, CAMBRIDGE SPIES also for the BBC, PAPARAZZI for Icon Productions in LA and Richard Eyre's COMPLEAT FEMALE STAGE BEAUTY. Tom is currently appearing at the Donmar Warehouse in John Osborne's THE HOTEL IN AMSTERDAM with Olivia Williams.

Lindy Hemming

Costume Designer

Winner of the 1995 WOMEN IN FILM & TELEVISION Technicians Award, Lindy has also received an Academy Award for her work on TOPSY TURVY and has been twice BAFTA nominated.
Other credits include: TOMBRAIDER (1&2), HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, DIE ANOTHER DAY, THE MAN WHO CRIED, THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE and FOUR WEDDINGS & A FUNERAL

Parminder Nagra

Parminder became a professional actress at 17. In that time she has built an extensive list of credits in theatre and television and now in film.
Recent high profile releases include BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM (Jess), SECOND GENERATION, a two part drama for Channel 4 in which she plays Heere, a leading role, & Channel 4's film of TWELFTH NIGHT (Viola) opposite Chiwetel Ejiofor.
This year she will be seen in Miramax's big budget feature ELLA ENCHANTED.
Parminder has recently joined the cast of the successful US series ER as a regular character, and her first episode will screen in the US in late September.