Film4 announces Rose Garnett as new Head of Development

Film4 is delighted to announce that Rose Garnett will be joining the team as Head of Development, whilst current Senior Commissioning Executive Katherine Butler has been promoted to Deputy Head of Film.

Garnett is an established theatre and film producer who began her career in 1992 as the producer of ‘Talking Tongues’ Theatre Company with David Farr, Rachel Weisz and Sasha Hails. She and Farr then took over the Gate Theatre in Notting Hill where they commissioned and worked with many writers and directors including Lee Hall, Tracy Letts, Anthony Neilson, Ben Hopkins, Dominic Cook and Sarah Kane.  After having children Garnett has worked as a script editor and producer, with her credits including Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan (Associate Producer), Gaby Dellal's Angels Crest (Associate Producer) and Sky One's Treasure Island (Script Editor).  Garnett is also currently on Britdoc’s ‘DocAcademy’ Advisory Board.

As Head of Development Garnett will manage an extensive slate of projects from a wide range of talent, from first-time filmmakers to established directors.  Garnett replaces Sam Lavender in the role, who was recently promoted to Commissioning Executive.

Butler joined Film4 in January 2005 as Head of Development, where she was responsible for the development of projects including Slumdog Millionaire, Hallam Foe, Nowhere Boy, Submarine, Attack the Block and Brick Lane.   She was promoted to Senior Commissioning Executive in October 2009 and has since executive produced some of the most talked-about low budget British films of recent years including Sightseers, The Imposter, Berberian Sound Studio, Tyrannosaur and Kill List, and most recently The Selfish Giant, Clio Barnard’s second feature which has been selected for Directors’ Fortnight at this year’s Cannes and For Those in Peril, Paul Wright’s debut heading for Critics’ Week.  As Deputy Head of Film, Butler will work with Tessa Ross across the full Film4 slate with Sam Lavender and Anna Higgs reporting into her.

Garnett and Butler will report directly into Tessa Ross, Controller of Film and Drama at Channel 4.

The Film4 development team has also recently welcomed Tom Leggett and Polly Stokes, to work alongside Eva Yates as Development Editors (with Sue Breen currently covering maternity for Yates).  Leggett joined in September from Element Pictures, where he was involved in projects including Frank, Shadowdancer and upcoming BBC series Quirke.  Prior to Element, Tom worked in Production & Acquisitions at the Weinstein Company in the UK, where he worked on The King’s Speech, My Week with Marilyn and The Artist amongst others.  Stokes joined Film4 last month, prior to which she was working as a freelance producer for companies including Warp Films, where she produced this year’s Cannes-selected For Those in Peril.  She was also associate producer on Richard Ayoade’s The Double for Alcove Entertainment, another upcoming project on Film4’s slate.

Tessa Ross, Controller of Drama and Film at Channel 4, says: “We’re really delighted to welcome Rose Garnett, who is so talented and highly regarded, to head up Film4’s passionate and dedicated development team.  I also offer my warmest congratulations to Katherine, whose work reflects her brilliant eye for distinctive talent and bold storytelling, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with her in her new role.”