Research commissioned by environmental charity Global Action Plan this summer shows three quarters (77%) of young people in the UK want to see environmental issues included in drama programmes on TV more than they currently are. 

Richard will be introducing five new film makers, finalists in Global Action Plan’s Flickers of the Future competition who are already working on visions of a positive sustainable future where people and planet thrive. 

Supported by Albert, the authority on environmental sustainability for film and TV from BAFTA, Making a drama out of a crisis aims to inspire change in the way the broadcast industry covers the environment. 

A panel of experts hosted by presenter and journalist Lucy Siegle will discuss different industry perspectives on how the sector can respond to the challenge of including more environmental content in entertainment, and be part of a vision of a positive, sustainable world. 

Speakers: 

Charlotte Ashby, Head of Production, Carnival Films

Charlotte Ashby is Head of Production at Carnival Film and Television, producers of Downton Abbey, Belgravia, The Last Kingdom, Stan Lee’s Lucky Man, Jamestown, Poirot, Hotel Babylon, The Hollow Crown anthology and many more. Carnival is one of the UK’s leading drama specialists and has received a host of national and international awards including Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes and BAFTAs, and has been recognised as the UK’s best production company at both the Bulldog Awards and Broadcast Awards. Prior to joining Carnival, Charlotte worked as a freelance Producer / Line Producer and then as Production Executive at NBCUniversal and Working Title Television. Charlotte is on the Green Is Universal committee and is working with Sky to embed sustainable practices in production.

Aaron Matthews, Head of Industry Sustainability, Albert

Aaron Matthews is an environmental consultant with ten years’ experience supporting the screen industries. He manages BAFTA’s environmental project albert, and is both knowledgeable about ways to reduce the industry’s impact and passionate about acting on the screen industry’s opportunity for creative climate cultural leadership.

Jon Mountague, Director of Comedy, Sky Studios

Jon Mountague is Director of Comedy for Sky Studios where he commissions and executive produces scripted comedy. His credits for Sky1 include, amongst others, the award winning Brassic with Dominic West, Idris Elba’s In The Long Run, Code 404 (Steven Graham and Danny Mays), Breeders (Martin Freeman), Intelligence (David Schwimmer and Nick Mohammed) and Two Weeks To Live (Maisie Williams). On Sky Atlantic his credits include the Bafta Award winning Alan Partridge: Scissored Isle (Steve Coogan) and Camping (Julia Davis). For Sky Arts he commissioned and exec’d the acclaimed Urban Myths. Prior to Sky Jon was Head of Comedy at BBC Comedy North where he launched the BBC’s comedy operation at Salford Quays leading a team of producers who scored a number of hit shows out of the north of England. He has worked as a producer with various Indies and also for BBC Radio Comedy. He is a member of BAFTA’s TV Committee.

Jeremy Oppenheim, Chair of Global Action Plan

Jeremy Oppenheim is a founding Partner of SystemiQ, a new firm dedicated to building sustainable, market-based economies; programme director of the Energy Transitions Commission; lead author of the Better Growth, Better Climate report of the New Climate Economy project; and advisor to multiple governments, companies and foundations on system transformation and resource productivity. In 2011, Jeremy co-authored a major report: Resource Revolution: Meeting the World’s Needs for Energy, Food, Water and Materials. Jeremy has spent over 20 years at McKinsey, developing and leading its Sustainability and Resource Productivity Practice (SRP) from 2007-2015.

Addy Raja, Award-winning film producer

Addy Raja is a multi-award winning film producer and NHS junior doctor. Addy combines his skills as a frontline clinician and creative storyteller to scope out fascinating and relevant stories. His latest production, SAMARITAN, a fictional narrative about climate change, is currently circulating the film festival circuit. He set up the UK’s first narrative healthcare production company, ADDY FILMS, and runs the UK’s largest medical film festival, Medfest. His first production, NORA, made for the NHS’ 70th Birthday, premiered at TEDx at the British Film Institute, and is now available to stream on Amazon Prime. Addy is curently developing a factual TV show highlighting therapeutic benefits of comedy improv performance with mental health, and co-writing a fictional dark comedy set in a hospice.