The development agency for Welsh film has appointed Lee Walters to lead the organisation into the next act of its story.
Joining from Media Cymru, Walters brings a wealth of experience and expertise in managing funds, developing innovative ideas, and cultivating sustainable growth for the screen sector.
As Senior Change Manager at BBC Cymru Wales, he was instrumental in delivering the new headquarters to the centre of Cardiff. In 2020 he joined Cardiff University as Programme Manager for Clwstwr, an ambitious innovation programme supported by both Welsh Government and Westminster that supported companies and freelancers to create new products, services, and experiences for the screen. This background makes him exceptionally well placed to implement transformational plans for Ffilm Cymru Wales.
Walters joins at an exciting time for the organisation and the film sector it exists to support. Ffilm Cymru funded features Chuck Chuck Baby (dir. Janis Pugh) and Unicorns (dir. Sally El Hosaini & James Krishna Floyd) both screened at Toronto International Film Festival last month, while animated adventure Kensuke’s Kingdom (dir. Neil Boyle & Kirk Hendry) celebrated its UK premiere at BFI London Film Festival this weekend.
While hosting Cine-Regio’s annual Regional Meeting of European film funds in Cardiff last week, Ffilm Cymru Wales launched Sinema Cymru, a new collaboration with S4C and Creative Wales to develop Welsh-language feature films with international scope. Meanwhile, Ffilm Cymru’s Skills team has recently secured multi-partner UK Shared Prosperity Funding to expand its inclusive new entrant training programme Foot In The Door to further communities across Wales.
The organisation’s forthcoming Strategic Plan for 2024-2030 shines spotlights on six pillars of sustainability: equality, creativity, skills, green, entrepreneurialism and wellbeing. It will provide a solid foundational script from which Walters and Ffilm Cymru Wales can focus future support for film in and for Wales.
“I am immensely grateful to Ruth and the Board for the opportunity to join Ffilm Cymru Wales as we continue the work to develop and sustain a strong Welsh film industry and champion our nation of storytellers.” Walters says.
“These are undoubtedly unprecedented times for film and the industry is changing at the speed of imagination, and while there will be challenges ahead, there will be countless opportunities for us to explore.
“I firmly believe that stories rooted in our language, our culture and our increasingly diverse communities provide rich potential to evolve our Welsh talent with eyes cast to the world stage.
“I look forward to working with the team, the wider screen sector and our key stakeholders as we embrace the challenges and grasp the opportunities for film in Wales, now and in the years ahead.”
Welcoming Walters to the organisation, Prof. Ruth McElroy, Chair of Ffilm Cymru Wales, adds: “I am delighted to welcome Lee to his new leadership role as CEO of Ffilm Cymru Wales. We know that this is a small country with immense talent and Lee is absolutely focused on supporting that talent and ensuring it thrives. The Board is committed to supporting him in achieving our ambitions for fair, sustainable, and inclusive growth in the sector. We are keen to engage with our major partners, funders and stakeholders as we refine our Strategy and develop our action plan for 2024.”
Ffilm Cymru Wales’ founding Chief Executive Pauline Burt left the organisation in September, with producer Uzma Hasan acting as Interim CEO until Walters takes up the role later in November.