Ellie Gocher, a filmmaker based in Harrow, has been named a Film London Lodestar. The capital’s screen industries agency revealed the annual list honouring the bright futures of 30 innovative creators and practitioners at a celebratory event at h Club, London last week, with Ellie in attendance.

With lodestars known for their inspiration and guidance, the list celebrates those within the screen industries who shine with outstanding creativity or craftsmanship, tipped to create, inspire and guide future works.

The list has been selected from over 1,000 people spanning Film London’s varied initiatives involving filmmakers, heads of department, craftspeople, performers, programmers, exhibitors, archivists and games creators who have worked with the capital’s screen agency over the past three years.

Film London Lodestars reflects the breadth of talent across London’s screen industries, celebrating a variety of successes from international festival circuits and award wins to community and environmental impact and gallery residencies. Last year’s Lodestars have gone on to achieve great success and create considerable industry impact. For instance, Rubika Shah won a Grierson award in 2019 for her feature, White Riot, and Koby Adom directed the anticipated Noughts & Crosses before slipping into development with Film4 for a feature based on his own short, Hair Cut.

With the recognition of British talent in awards season all around the world right now, Lodestars shines a spotlight on the next generation of talent coming through.

Ellie Gocher is a filmmaker. Her short drama V received a BFI Future Film 2018 New Talent Award for her writing and the Underwire Film Festival 2018 award for Best Producer. She is currently in the process of researching for her first feature screenplay, as well as developing her first directorial short. Ellie was commissioned by Film London to produce V as part of their 2017 London Calling scheme.

Ellie said: “As well as contributing to our project budget, Film London also provided amazing support with story development, workshops, mentorship and publicity, and at the end of the process selected V to be one of the eight films programmed for the 2017 BFI London Film Festival – a huge highlight for all of our team. With their help, the film went on to have a successful festival run before launching online through Short of the Week and receiving a Vimeo Staff Pick.”

Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, said: “I’m thrilled to congratulate Ellie on becoming a 2020 Lodestar, selected from such a high calibre of talent that reflects the diverse communities of London and our commitments to inclusion in our industry.

“Film London Lodestars is proving to be a true marker of industry talent in the capital. We’ve seen our 2019 alumni achieve mainstream distribution and critical recognition for their work and I am extremely excited by the opportunities that await Ellie over the course of the year and beyond.

“Thanks to the strength of British talent, the UK’s film and TV production boom shows no sign of abating and it’s vital we nurture and champion the exceptional talent across the screen industries that leads the way in shaping the future.”

With support from the GLA, BFI NETWORK, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England, Film London supports talent across London’s screen industries, from new entrants to established creators, with content ranging from narrative shorts to artists’ moving image.