Edinburgh TV Festival Appoints Creative and Programme Directors

Rowan Woods, the Head of Episodic & Series Programme for the BFI London Film Festival, has been appointed as the new Creative Director of The Edinburgh TV Festival, replacing Stewart Clarke who leaves the role after four Festivals.

A film and TV curator, acquisitions executive and festival consultant, Woods was responsible for launching and running the BFI’s TV-facing programme since 2021 including gala screenings of Emmy Award winners Succession and Dopesick, episodic work by Yeon Sang-ho, Lars von Trier, Clea Duvall and Lulu Wang, and world premieres including Hugo Blick’s The English, J Blakeson’s Culprits and Theresa Ikoko’s Grime Kids. In addition to roles at the British Council, BBC Films and AMC Networks, she also spent five years at the start of her career as a radio and TV producer for the BBC’s flagship film and culture programmes.

Starting in the role this month, Woods will be responsible for driving the creative direction of the Festival. As well as curating its programme, she will be devising new ways to connect the TV industry and showcase creative excellence.

Gemma Bradshaw joins the team in the role of Programmes Director at the TV Foundation, the charity which owns the Edinburgh TV Festival, replacing Sarah Vignoles who leaves after four years in the role.

Previously, Bradshaw was the Director of One World Media – the not-for-profit organisation that supports journalists and filmmakers in reporting across the world – with a focus on growing their support for new talent covering global stories.

Bradshaw started her career in public policy before a move to the US working in the documentary industry as Director of Programs for the Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA), and prior to that as COO of the San Francisco Green Film Festival.

In her role at the TV Foundation, she will lead its work across various initiatives, including flagship programmes The Network and Ones to Watch, that give access and opportunity to underrepresented groups across the UK, to enter the TV industry.

Woods and Bradshaw’s roles will continue to report into CEO Campbell Glennie who oversees both the Festival and Foundation’s work and their strategic visions.

Glennie said: “Rowan and Gemma are joining us at a time where we look forward to 2024 and our ambitious plans to make the Edinburgh TV Festival and the TV Foundation’s programmes even more inclusive and accessible, something I know they are both passionate about. As established leaders in their fields they will bring a wealth of new experience to write our next chapter. Those who have worked with them before know how lucky we are to have them on board and I can’t wait to start building our future with them.”