Farhana Bhula has been officially appointed as the director of Film4, the feature film division of the UK broadcaster. Bhula has held the post o
Farhana Bhula has been officially appointed as the director of Film4, the feature film division of the UK broadcaster.
Bhula has held the post of interim director since July, and takes over from Ollie Madden with immediate effect.
Madden, who held the post of director of Film4 and Channel 4 drama, is leaving to become director of UK film at Netflix from October.
Bhula is part of Channel 4’s executive team and senior leadership team, reporting to Martin Baker, chief commercial affairs officer, who has assumed interim responsibility for Film4 under interim CEO Jonathan Allan and led the external recruitment process.
Film4 has an annual budget of £22.5m.
Gwawr Lloyd remains interim head of drama, reporting to Channel 4 chief content officer Ian Katz. A spokesperson said Bhula and Lloyd will continue to work closely together, and both will executive produce Molly Manning Walker’s TV series Major Players, in partnership with A24.
Bhula joined Film4 in January 2022 from BFI, where she was senior development and production executive, and had previously held posts at Wildgaze Films and Endor Productions. Her first role at Film4 was senior commissioning executive, later becoming head of imaginative and deputy director.
She has overseen features for the division including Manning Walker’s debut film How To Have Sex and Andrew Haigh’s All Of Us Strangers, as well as 2025 festival titles including Mark Jenkin’s Venice premiere Rose Of Nevada, Oliver Hermanus’ Cannes title The History Of Sound and Philippa Lowthorpe’s Telluride selection H Is For Hawk. She has also overseen Future Takes, the high-budget shorts programme for emerging filmmakers, in partnership with the BFI.
“Film4 has long been the home of original, daring filmmaking that truly cuts through. Under the dynamic and inspiring leadership of Ollie Madden, and alongside the passionate Film4 team, I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the most exciting writers, directors, and producers in the world,” said Bhula.
“It’s an honour to now lead Film4 into its next chapter. With a mandate to take creative risks, an ambition to connect British filmmakers with global audiences, and the support of Jonathan Allan, Martin Baker, and the exceptional Channel 4 executive team, there really is no place like Film4.”
“Farhana has been a key part of Film4’s success for the last three years, working closely with Ollie Madden,” added Jonathan Allan, interim CEO at Channel 4. “I am delighted that Farhana will take on this hugely important role, after a rigorous and competitive external recruitment process. Farhana’s experience within Film4, dedication to emerging talent and her established industry relationships will deliver a new exciting era and success for our filmmakers and the Film4 brand on the world stage.”
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