BBC Films has appointed Claudia Yusef as Head Of Development. Reporting directly to Director of BBC Films, Rose Garnett, Yusuf will take up her role in January 2019 and will be part of the BBC Films management team.
Yusuf most recently served as Head Of Development for UK production firm Number 9 Films, producer of Colette, a role she took up in May of this year. Prior to Number 9, she was Talent Development Executive at the Scottish Film Network, part of BFI NETWORK. She has also worked as Development Executive at 42 Management and Production.
BBC Films has gone through a makeover since the arrival of Garnett in 2017. New faces in the editorial team include Development Executives, Sam Gordon and Dionne Farrell. Gordon joined BBC Films in February 2018 from Baby Cow Films where he was a Development Executive. Farrell, who joined in October 2018, previously worked at Pulse Films, Rooks Nest Entertainment, and most recently was Development Editor for Unigram. She has also script edited for Channel 4Screenwriting.
The BBC Films team now comprises Garnett, Commissioning Executive Eva Yates, Development Coordinator Yero Timi-Biu, and Development Assistant, Katie Sinclair. BBC Films Head of Production and Finance is Michael Wood working alongside Production Executive Emma Kayee who joined in January 2018 from the BFI Film Fund. Business Affairs is led by Geraldine Atlee.
Garnett said of Yusufs hire, “Im over the moon that Claudia is joining us. Weve taken time to carefully build a talented and dedicated creative team at BBC Films and Claudias appointment marks the completion of that process and the start of an exciting new phase. We cant wait for her to start.”
Yusuf added, “Elizabeth and Stephen have been a joy to work with and Im sorry to be leaving Number 9. This opportunity to work for such an august institution, as part of such a dynamic, inspiring team was irresistible. Im absolutely thrilled to help develop the next slate of BBC Films.”
The key UK funder has three titles at Sundance 2019: Sacha Polaks Dirty God; Joanna Hoggs The Souvenir; and Chiwetel Ejiofors directorial debut The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind.
In post-production are Sean Durkins The Nest, starring Jude Law and Carrie Coon; Judy, directed by Rupert Goold and starring Renee Zellweger; and Sorry We Missed You, written by Paul Laverty and directed by Ken Loach. Upcoming BBC Films include Hong Khaous Monsoon; Jessica Hausners Little Joe; Philippa Lowthorpes Misbehaviour; and His House by first-time UK writer/director Remi Weekes.
[contf] [contfnew] 
Deadline
[contfnewc] [contfnewc]
