The 31st Galway Film Fleadh are pleased to announce Gurinder Chadha will be the subject of this year’s Directors Masterclass, supported by Screen Skills Ireland.
She began her career as a broadcast journalist for BBC News and moved into directing with her first documentary I’M BRITISH BUT…. for Channel 4 and the BFI in 1989 and subsequently made several award-winning documentaries for BFI, BBC and Channel 4.
She directed her first short feature, NICE ARRANGEMENT in 1990.
Her first feature, the landmark comedy-drama BHAJI ON THE BEACH, received a BAFTA Nomination for ‘Best British Film’ and the Evening Standard British Film Award for ‘Best Newcomer to British Cinema’. Her film, BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM, was the highest grossing British-financed, British-distributed film ever at the UK box office (at time of release ) and topped box office charts internationally.
Her other hit films include WHAT’S COOKING?, BRIDE & PREJUDICE, ANGUS, THONGS AND PERFECT SNOGGING, IT’S A WONDERFUL AFTERLIFE and most recently VICEROY'S HOUSE.
She has received several Honorary Doctorates from British Universities and was awarded an O.B.E. in the 2006 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her services to the British Film Industry. She is an active patron of numerous charities including MAF (Medical Aid Films ), is a Creative Mentor and Role Model for Creative Access, Directors UK INSPIRE, the BFI and the Sundance Directors’ Lab. and Patron of Women in Film UK.
Gurinder is chair of Bend It Networks - a content creation company she co-founded with Paul Mayeda Berges which develops multicultural stories for international audiences across Film, TV, Stage & Digital.
Gurinder and Paul created BEECHAM HOUSE, an epic, returning drama series set in India in 1795 for ITV and Masterpiece/PBS. The series will premiere in the UK in June 2019.
The masterclass will be moderated by Felim McDermott who is a graduate from IDAT’s Film Production course and in 2005 was conferred with a Masters in Screenwriting from the Huston Film School. From 2006 to 2010, Felim was the Artistic Director of the Galway Film Fleadh and currently lectures on script in GMIT’s Film & Documentary course.
Will’s latest film, Blinded by the Light, will screen on Thursday 11th July @ 8.30pm at Town Hall Theatre as part of this year’s Galway Film Fleadh programme.
The masterclass costs €50 and will take place on Friday 12th July from 10am – 1pm in the Galmont Hotel, Galway.
To apply for a place, contact Emma Owen by email: [email protected]
The closing date for applications is: Friday 5th July 2019
