This year's jury chair, Michael Kuhn was born in Nairobi, Kenya in 1949. After primary school he left to attend Dover College in England in 1962 and went on to Clare College Cambridge in 1968 to read Law.
He joined Polygram N.V (now part of Universal) in 1975 and in 1991 set up Polygram Filmed Entertainment, which made and distributed over 100 feature films and which between them won 14 Academy Awards. These films included FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL, NOTTING HILL, DEAD MAN WALKING, THE USUAL SUSPECTS, LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS, ELIZABETH, "TRAINSPOTTING and PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT.
He was awarded the Michael Balcon Award for services to British Cinema in 1999.
Michael married Caroline in 1995 and has two sons. He returned to Britain in 1999, after being based in Los Angeles. He set up Qwerty Films in 1999 and secured finance to produce bigger budget movies and has investments in a music company, theatre and a film development joint venture with the Film Council. Qwerty Films has produced 6 features in its first 4 years of operation, including STAGE BEAUTY, KINSEY and I HEART HUCKABEES. THE MOGULS, starring Jeff Bridges is scheduled for release early next year and they are currently in post-production on SEVERANCE, directed by Christopher Smith (CREEP), and ALIEN AUTOPSY directed by Jonny Campbell and starring Declan Donnelly and Ant McPartlin (TVs Ant and Dec).
His book "100 Films and a Funeral" was published in 2001. He was appointed Chair of the National Film and Television School in 2002.
The 2005 Jury Chair
The 2005 Jury
Alan trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. On the New York stage he has appeared in ELLE (which he also adapted), DESIGN FOR LIVING and CABARET (for which he won the Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Theater World, New York Press, FANY and New York Public Advocate's Awards). In London: HAMLET at the Donmar Warehouse (TMA Best Actor award and Shakespeare Globe nomination), CABARET (Olivier nomination), LA BETE (Olivier nomination), CONQUEST OF THE SOUTH POLE (Olivier nomination) and seasons with the RSC and RNT, where he won an Olivier Award for his performance in ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST (which he also co-adapted).
Alan can be seen in Showtime's REEFER MADNESS, a tongue-in-cheek musical comedy adaptation of the 1936 classic anti-marijuana propaganda film. He recently starred in New Line's SON OF THE MASK with Jamie Kennedy and next Spring will be back on Broadway with Edie Falco in THE THREEPENNY OPERA. Cumming recently completed work on the animated feature ANT BULLY for Warner Bros. as well as the independent film NEVERWAS (costarring Aaron Eckhart), EIGHTEEN and BAM BAM AND CELESTE directed by Margaret Cho.
He wrote, directed, produced and acted in (with Jennifer Jason Leigh) the feature film THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won a National Board of Review award and two Independent Spirit award nominations. He also directed the short films BUTTER and BURN YOUR PHONE. Recent films include X2: X-MEN UNITED, SPY KIDS 3, NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS, COMPANY MAN, TITUS, URBANIA, EYES WIDE SHUT, EMMA, CIRCLE OF FRIENDS, GOLDENEYE and BUDDY. His debut novel, TOMMY'S TALE, is recently published and fragrance CUMMING is now available at cummingthefragrance.com. He resides in New York City and has a long-running website, alancumming.com, where you can find the latest information on everything he's involved with, from acting projects to charitable organizations.
Beeban first drew critical acclaim with her 1990 BAFTA award-winning television drama for the BBC, ORANGES ARE NOT THE ONLY FRUIT which was released as a feature film in the U.S. Also in 1990, she directed another critically admired comedy about two life-long rivals, ANTONIA AND JANE, starring Saskia Reeves and Imelda Staunton.
Her first major Hollywood picture, USED PEOPLE (Miramax1992), starred Shirley MacLaine and Marcello Mastroianni and garnered both Golden Globe nominations. This was followed by the controversial HOOKERS, HUSTLERS, PIMPS and THEIR JOHNS. In 1993 she directed GREAT MOMENTS IN AVIATION, starring Vanessa Redgrave, John Hurt, and Jonathan Pryce, followed by TO WONG FOO, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, JULIE NEWMAR
Other feature film credits include SWEPT FROM THE SEA and VROOM. and many television credits including MURDER, CINDERELLA, ITCH, CARRY GREENHAM HOME LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT and EVE ARNOLD, A PORTRAIT. She most recently directed BRIDGET JONES' DIARY: THE EDGE OF REASON staring Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth.
Before becoming a filmmaker, Beeban was a waitress, dancing girl, courier, gallery and shop worker. She has been taking photographs since the age of 11 and was 'discovered' aged 13 by Magnum photographer Eve Arnold.
Bryce Dallas Howard made her feature debut starring in the M. Night Shyamalan film, THE VILLAGE, opposite Adrien Brody, Joaquin Phoenix and Sigourney Weaver. Howard next stars as 'Grace' in the Lars von Trier film, MANDERLAY, the filmmaker's follow-up to DOGVILLE. The film also stars Lauren Bacall, Chloe Sevigny, Danny Glover and Jeremy Davies and premiered at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival. IFC Films will release the film in March 2006. Howard will then star as 'Rosalind' opposite Kevin Kline in Kenneth Branagh's film adaptation of the Shakespeare classic, AS YOU LIKE IT, which Picturehouse will release in the Spring of 2006. She is currently in production on Shyamalan's next project, LADY IN THE WATER, opposite Paul Giamatti which Warner Bros. has scheduled for release in Summer 2006.
After leaving the Tisch School of the Arts program at New York University, Howard immediately began working on the New York stage, including playing the role of 'Marianne' in the Roundabout's Broadway production of TARTUFFE, 'Rosalind' in the Public Theatre's AS YOU LIKE IT, 'Sally Platt' in the Manhattan Theater Club's production of Alan Ayckbourn's HOUSE/GARDEN and as 'Emily' in the Bay Street Theater Festival production of OUR TOWN.
After brief spells in the theatre and then film casting, Sue Latimer started her career as an agent with the William Morris Agency. Promoted to Head of Talent in Europe, Sue was responsible for the agency's domestic and international roster of clients.
Sue left William Morris after ten years to set up a successful actors and entertainers division at the Curtis Brown Agency.
In 2001 Sue Latimer went into partnership with the former Managing Director of ICM in London, Michael Foster. They formed Artists' Rights Group [ARG] which has quickly grown into a leading player in the industry.
ARG has recently broadened out into television production making one of ITV's most successful dramas of the past year: AHEAD OF THE CLASS.
In the early '80s, Uberto joined David Puttnam's company Enigma. He then moved to Columbia Pictures where he worked with, among others, David Mamet and Emir Kusturica. Returning to Enigma in London, he oversaw production on Szabo's MEETING VENUS and produced the award-winning LAWRENCE, A DANGEROUS MAN.
In 1991 Pasolini left Enigma to set up Redwave Films. In 1994 he produced PALOOKAVILLE and in 1996 made THE FULL MONTY. Amongst countless other plaudits, the film was nominated for four Oscars and won Best Film at the BAFTAs and the Spanish Goya.
Recent credits include THE CLOSER YOU GET and THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES, starring Ian Holm and Iben Hjejle.
Amanda is an actress with a wealth of film, television and theatre experience. On screen, she has worked with Mike Figgis, Nicholas Hytner, Nick Broomfield, Ken Russel and Nicholas Roeg. Amanda's small screen credits are extensive, including MURDER MOST HORRID, FRASIER, ALLY MCBEAL and A WOMAN'S GUIDE TO ADULTERY. On stage, we have seen her as Mrs Robinson in THE GRADUATE, the eponymous lead in HEDDA GABLER and was hugely acclaimed for her Broadway debut as Yelena in UNCLE VANYA.
Perhaps better known as Asher D of So Solid Crew notoreity and recipient of last year's Most Promising Newcomer Award, Ashley Walters demonstrates his true acting potential in Saul Dibb's BULLET BOY. Having started out in Grange Hill, Walters has gone on to star in staple TV dramas (The Bill, Holby City), TV docudramas (notably the 1999 reconstruction of The Murder of Stephen Lawrence), several shorts and has had bit parts in several features. Walters will next be seen in psychological thriller HOUSE OF NINE and has just finished shooting STORMBREAKER.
Anne Reid has worked extensively in television, film and theatre. Her acclaimed performance in Roger Michell's film THE MOTHER, with Daniel Craig, led her to being awarded the London Critics Circle Award for Best British Actress and 'Best Actress' at the Cinessonne Film Festival, nominations for Best Actress at the British Independent Film Awards, British Academy Film Awards, European Film Awards, and Evening Standard Film Awards. She has appeared in many TV series, including and most recently as 'Brenda' in the ITV comedy drama series LIFE BEGINS, 'Grace' in the ITV comedy THE BOOZE CRUISE and Jean in BBC One's DINNERLADIES. Anne first shot to prominence in the 60s in CORONATION STREET as 'Valerie Tatlock/Barlow'. Amongst her theatre credits are 'Mother' in Peter Gill's production of THE YORK REALIST at the Royal Court and in the West End and 'Juno' in OUT OF THIS WORLD at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Anne will play 'Mrs Rouncewell' in the BBC's BLEAK HOUSE, alongside Gillian Anderson and will also appear in the sequels to THE BOOZE CRUISE due to be screened on ITV (all for this Autumn). Anne's future projects include the film A LITTLE TRIP TO HEAVEN with Julia Stiles and Forest Whitaker, due for release this year. Anne can currently be seen on the West End stage staring along side Joseph Fiennes and Francesca Annis in EPITAPH FOR GEORGE DILLON
Anglo-Scottish director-producer-writer, Hugh Hudson began his career as a filmmaker in documentaries, producing and directing many award winning films.
Most notable of these was a 90 minute biography of FANGIO, the five times race-car champion, which was distributed in Europe and South America.
In the late sixties and throughout the seventies he was directing and producing television commercials, becoming one of the most prestigious advertising directors in Great Britain.
In the eighties he graduated to feature films.
The main theme of this career, consisting of 8 full length feature films is the search for personal identity: CHARIOTS OF FIRE, GREYSTOKE, REVOLUTION, LUMIERE & CO, LOST ANGELS, I DREAMED OF AFRICA, MY LIFE SO FAR.
His films deal with men and women separated from society, trying to find a true identity for themselves, fighting against forces of prejudice and compromise.
Both period and modern dramas, often set in far distant lands, they encompass emotionally intimate human and family stories, yet contain an epic sense of time and place.
An outstanding visual sense, and the use of powerful sweeping music are hallmarks of his work.
MICK AUDSLEY is a film editor whose credits include: HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, John Madden's PROOF and SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, the BIFA-winning DIRTY PRETTY THINGS and Terry Gilliam's TWELVE MONKEYS.
Mikael Hafstrom was born in Lund, Sweden. He studied film at the University of Stockholm and then the School of Visual Arts in New York. He began his professional life as a freelance film critic and later went on to work as an Assistant Director and Script Writer in Swedish television before moving on to direct Swedish dramas.
In 1995, Mr Hafstrom directed his first feature VENDETTA. He then went on to direct and co-write award winning productions including: DAYS LIKE THESE (Leva Livet) (2001), and Academy Award nominated EVIL (Ondskan) (2003).
Hafstrom's recent projects include DROWNING GHOST (Strandvaskaren) (2004) and most recently Miramax thriller DERAILED, starring Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston, for which he is currently in post-production.
Tom Hunsinger's writing and directing partnership with Neil Hunter has resulted in the highly acclaimed BOYFRIENDS and BIFA-winning THE LAWLESS HEART. He has directed a series of Jullie Balloo's plays for the stage and also writes with her and Jennie Eclair. He will go into production on SPARKLE in 2006 and is currently developing SPLIT, both with Hunter. Tom also teaches acting at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.
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