Meet the UK Commissioners

BBC Film and Film4, the feature film divisions of the UK public-service broadcasters, have a unique role within the UK film industry. Their films have premiered in prestige festivals and have been rewarded both at home and internationally. Don't miss this conversation about artistic choices, new talent, and changing audiences.

Speakers:

EVA YATES | Director
BBC Film

FARHANA BHULA | Director of Film4
Film4

Moderator:

WENDY MITCHELL | Journalist and Film Festival Programmer

About the speakers:

FARHANA BHULA
Farhana Bhula is Director of Film4, a role she assumed in September 2025 after serving as Head of Creative. Since joining Film4 in January 2022, she has overseen a diverse slate of acclaimed features including How To Have Sex, All of Us Strangers, Rose of Nevada, and H is for Hawk. She also launched Future Takes in partnership with the BFI to support emerging talent. Previously, she was a Senior Development and Production Executive at the BFI, and held roles at Wildgaze Films and Endor Productions, establishing herself as a leading voice in British film.

EVA YATES
Eva Yates is Director of BBC Film, the filmmaking arm of the BBC. Since taking up the Directorship in 2022 (having previously served for five years as Commissioning Executive), she has commissioned/executive produced over 70 feature films which between them have received 155 BIFA nominations (leading to 31 wins), 29 BAFTA nominations (leading to 3 wins) and 13 Oscar nominations (leading to 1 win). Having grown up in Scotland and graduated from Glasgow University and Falmouth College of Art, Eva started her career at BBC Scotland, moving onto production and development roles at UK Film Council and Revolution Films.

WENDY MITCHELL
Wendy Mitchell is a journalist, curator and moderator. She is a Contributing Editor at Screen International and hosts the weekly Screen Podcast. She also serves as the Nordic and UK delegate for the San Sebastian International Film Festival and curates their Creative Investors Conference, as well as consulting for Cannes Marche and Berlinale's European Film Market.