FRANCES LEA

Frances started life as a painter before she trained at Bournemouth Film School. She set up and ran a cinema within Treadwell’s Art Mill in Bradford and wrote and directed a number of films including Release Me for BBC2 (‘a surprising and brave film and an inspiration to watch’ Jane Campion) which won 7 international awards at festivals, and Oh Julie! for Channel 4 which won 4 festival awards and had theatrical and DVD distribution with Manga Entertainment.

She directed a 13-part drama series Samson Superslug for ITV Network, Fugee Girl for Channel 4, internet drama series Get A Life Harry and a no-budget film Everyone’s Happy for Footprint Films (‘recalls Mike Leigh at his most restrained ‘ Derek Elley Variety).

Frances features in Screen International’s UK Stars of Tomorrow 2011 issue.