Anna Higgs to head Film4.0

21 July 2011

Film4, Channel 4 Television's feature film division, has announced the appointment of Anna Higgs to the newly-created role of Commissioning Editor to spearhead its digital initiatives under the brand banner of Film4.0.

As part of its increased funding, Film4 is set to take a pioneering role in exploring the digital, online arena through Film4.0.  Its aim will be to find new talent and discover new ways of making, marketing and distributing films and engaging new audiences online.

Film4's reputation for nurturing new talent and building on its family of returning talent in the UK is well-established, and it is now extending its vision to advance digital thinking and practice and encourage audiences to interact in a multi platform environment.

Reporting to Senior Commissioning Editor, Katherine Butler, Higgs' role will be focused on three main areas: commissioning new and established film-makers working in the digital space in new and innovative formats; seeking brand-new talent working in this area; and working across the Film4 slate to exploit new cross-platform audience-facing marketing opportunities.

Higgs will take up her role at the end of September.

Commenting on the appointment, Channel 4's Controller of Film and Drama, Tessa Ross said: ‘We are thrilled to have found in Anna the perfect person with whom to launch our new digital venture, Film4.0. She combines a passion for innovation with a clear expertise in delivering it to audience and she will be a wonderful addition to the team.'

Anna Higgs added: "I am incredibly excited to be heading up this groundbreaking initiative.  Working with a team that has such phenomenal talent relationships and having the freedom to take risks was simply an unmissable opportunity for me I look forward to Film4.0 making a real impact on how new and established talent works with digital platforms as well as connecting to audiences in new and deeper, more rewarding, ways."

Film4 has most recently worked with Anna on a short film, See Me, which Anna produced for her company Quark Films. Formerly a digital media producer and consultant, upon completing her Masters at the National Film & Television School, Anna co-founded innovative production company Quark.  There she produced award-winning projects that bring together documentary, fiction and animation across traditional and new media platforms, including work for the BBC and Channel 4 as well as theatrical features The People vs. George Lucas and First Person Shooter. The success of the company saw Anna named among Screen International's Stars of Tomorrow 2007 and selected as a finalist in the British Council's Young Screen Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2009.

Quark Films will continue its innovative work with founder Gavin Humphries at the helm, working with new and established talent across all platforms and genres to tell important stories in compelling ways.

 

Contact:

Justin Jeffreys

Taylor Herring Public Relations Ltd

020 8206 5151

Justin.jeffreys@taylorherring.com

 

 

About Film4

Film4, headed by Tessa Ross, is Channel 4 Television's feature film division. Film4 develops and co-finances films and is known for working with the most innovative talent in the U.K., whether new or established. Film4 has developed and co-financed many of the most successful UK films of recent years, films like Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours, Martin McDonagh's In Bruges. Steve McQueen's Hunger, Mike Leigh's Another Year, Mark Romanek's Never Let Me Go, Chris Morris' Four Lions and Peter Mullan's NEDS.

Film4's 2011 releases have included Kevin Macdonald's The Eagle, Richard Ayoade's Submarine and Joe Cornish's directorial debut Attack The Block which recently won the Midnight Screening Audience Award at SXSW. Shortly due for release are Ben Palmer's The Inbetweeners Movie, Lone Scherfig's One Day,  Miranda July's second film The Future, Paddy Considine's debut feature Tyrannosaur, Ben Wheatley's Kill List and Terence Davies' The Deep Blue Sea will all be released in the UK later this year. 

Film4's current productions include Pawel Pawlikowski's The Woman In The Fifth, Phyllida Lloyd's The Iron Lady, Steve McQueen's Shame, Walter Salles' On The Road, Andrea Arnold's Wuthering Heights and Peter Strickland's Berberian Sound Studio.