The Patrons

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.

Ken Loach was born in 1936 in Nuneaton. He attended King Edward VI Grammar School and went on to study law at St. Peter's Hall, Oxford. After a brief spell as an actor, Loach was recruited by the BBC in 1963 as a trainee television director. This launched a long career directing films and documentaries for television and the cinema, from CATHY COME HOME and KES in the sixties to LAND AND FREEDOM and MY NAME IS JOE in recent years.

Five times British Independent Film Award nominated, Samantha Morton won Best Actress for her role in MORVERN CALLAR in 2002. She was also nominated as Best Supporting Actress for her role in SWEET AND LOWDOWN at both the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards in 1999. Other credits include: UNDER THE SKIN, PANDAEMONIUM, MINORITY REPORT and the about to be released IN AMERICA. Sam has also recently completed Michael Winterbottom's CODE 46 and is currently filming ENDURING LOVE with Roger Michell.

As actress, activist, environmentalist, film producer and author, Trudie's career spans many creative fields. Her passionate concerns for the environment and human rights motivate many of her career choices, and are reflected most clearly in her documentary films and fundraising activities.
Trudie's company Xingu Films began by making documentary films for the BBC. One of their first, MOVING THE MOUNTAIN (1994, directed by Michael Apted) told the student leaders' stories of the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing in 1989, and won an International Documentary Association Award. Other credits include: BOYS FROM BRAZIL (1993), THE SWEATBOX (2002), A KIND OF CHILDHOOD (2002), LOCK STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS (1998) and SNATCH (2000). This year Xingu has completed David Thewlis's CHEEKY (co-produced with Luc Besson's EuropaCorp), and is currently developing a New York story to be filmed next year with Robert Downey Jr.

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