Speaker Biographies - BFI - British Film Institute

UK-India: The Shape of Things to Come
Speaker Biographies
Steve Joberns, Shipleys LLP
Steve qualified as a lawyer in 1991 and in 1992 switched professions to join
Shipleys LLP. He is a Chartered Accountant and member of the Chartered Institute of
Taxation and became a principal at Shipleys LLP in 2001. He now looks after a
portfolio of clients that comprises principally entities in the film and television
industries and has a wide experience in dealing with complex multinational coproductions.
Steve has acted as auditor and/or advisor on a large number of productions. Recent
films in which both Steve and Shipleys have been involved are Brideshead Revisited,
How To Lose Friends and Alienate People, Incendiary and Slumdog Millionaire.
He is a regular advisor to both the UK Film Council and Department for Culture
Media and Sport.
Parminder Vir OBE, Executive Producer/ Media Consultant
Awarding winning film and television producer with 20 years of production
experience of drama, documentary, current affairs and entertainment working for
the BBC, ITV, Channel Four, major international channels and her own independent
production company, Formation Films.
Consultant with Spectrum Value Partners, developed commercial opportunities for
the growth of UK media and cultural sectors in India. She established Ingenious
World Cinema at Ingenious Media Investments, working with talent from the
emerging markets to produce cross-cultural films for the global market. She sourced
single film projects; structured and negotiated the financing of two international film
slates, executive produced the delivery of the projects to completion, and introduced
new investor base to the company, including high networth individuals, who view
film as an asset class.
She served as a Board Director of the UK Film Council (1999-2005) contributed to
developing policy on diversity, co-production treaties, skills training, and specialised
distribution. Non-Executive Director to the Board of Department for Culture, Media
and Sports (DCMS) advising on creative economy, international policy and strategy
for the department and the cultural sector.
Board Director, UK India Business Council, expert Creative Industries, facilitating
business to business flow between the two countries; Charter Member of The Indus
Entrepreneur (TiE), a network committed to promoting entrepreneurship globally
through mentoring, networking and education; a Skillset Patron and Board Director,
Young Vic Theatre.

Regular speaker and panellist at International Film Festivals and Media Conferences,
on the subject of International Film and Media Finance, Co-Productions and how to
benefit from emerging opportunities in India, China and beyond.
Nasreen Munni Kabir, Documentary Filmmaker/author
Nasreen Munni Kabir is an Indian born, London-based documentary film-
maker/author. Directed several series for Channel 4, including Movie Mahal, Follow
that Star (a profile of Amitabh Bachchan), Lata in her own Voice, and The Inner/Outer
World of Shah Rukh Khan Authored several books on Indian cinema including “Guru
Dutt- a life in cinema” (OUP, India, 1996) “Talking Films/Songs with Javed Akhtar”
(OUP, India 1999, 2005), and “Bollywood, the Indian cinema Story.” Winner of the
first Asian Womens’ Achievement Award in 1999 for her work promoting Indian
cinema in the UK, she is a former BFI governor, and continues to work as UK’s
Channel 4’s consultant on Indian cinema, curating their annual film season of 20
Indian films
Justin Marciano, Revolver Entertainment
Justin Marciano founded Revolver Entertainment, currently one of the hottest young
independent film distribution companies in the UK, in 1997 developing projects for
the home entertainment market with a single £1000 investment and has driven sales
to their present level of more than £5 million per annum.
Revolver’s most notable titles releases include 13 (TZAMETI), which won Best
First Feature at Venice and the World Cinema Award at Sundance, Werner
Herzog’s GRIZZLY MAN, which premiered at Sundance, THE BEASTIE BOYS: AWESOME
I FUCKIN’ SHOT THAT, which premiered at Sundance, the UK hit KIDULTHOOD.
Australian drama JINDABYNE and French language hit TELL NO ONE, which grossed
£1.2 million at the UK box office.
In 2008 Revolver released the UK's first live action digital 3D movie, U23D. The film
broke box office records in Ireland and played in 45 specially equipped cinemas
across the UK. Other highlights included; FEMALE AGENTS, MY BROTHER IS AN ONLY
CHILD and THE WACKNESS, Sundance ’08 Audience award winner. 2009 titles
include; Cannes winner - TYSON, Van Damme parody - JCVD, JUST ANOTHER LOVE
STORY, FERMATS ROOM and BIG RIVER MAN.
The company will also be the first distributor to collapse all windows in the UK with
26th December release of British horror pic MUM & DAD, available simultaneously in
cinemas, PPV, DVD, and electronic sell through and retail.
He is also a graduate of Inside Pictures, a London/Los Angeles film business
programme for UK executives and producers..
Jacqueline Hurt, Olswang

Jacqueline Hurt is a partner in the Media, Communications and Technology Group at
Olswang .
Jacqueline specialises in the production, financing and distribution of films and
television programmes. She has particular expertise in the structuring of multi-party
financings of independent films including co-productions and bringing together
various sources of finance including government subsidies, co-production funds,
distribution pre sales, bank financing and equity and tax-driven funds. Her clients
are wide ranging encompassing US studios and US independents including Sony,
Warner Bros. and Lions Gate, banks and equity and tax-driven financiers including
UK Film Council and Aramid Entertainment Fund Limited and UK and European
producers and distributors including Pathe (in both France and the UK) and Gurinder
Chadha's company, Bend It Films Limited.
Jackie has been named a leader in her field by the Legal Media Group's Expert Guide
to the World's Leading Technology, Media and Telecommunication Lawyers, Legal
Business' Legal Experts, by Chambers UK and by The Legal 500.
Hugo Heppell, Screen Yorkshire
Hugo has been Head of Production at Screen Yorkshire since 2003, during which
time he has been associated with 18 feature films including BAFTA and BIFA winning
THIS IS ENGLAND, and the Warp X low budget slate, and the forthcoming THE
DAMNED UNITED and the three RED RIDING films, 1974, 1980 and 1983, all adapted
from the bestselling novels of David Peace. Previously, Hugo taught screenwriting
and produced independent films in New York.
Lorna Harpham, Managed Migration Unit
Lorna joined the Home Office in April 2007 from the private sector, and has been
involved with the sponsor management unit since its formation. She visits various
types of businesses to ensure that employers of work permit holders are aware of
and sufficiently informed about the new points-based immigration system. She is
currently involved in conducting pre-licensing visits to organisations that have
applied to be accepted as sponsors of migrants under the points-based system.
Barbara Follett, Minster for Culture, the Creative Industries and Tourism.
Barbara Follett, MP for Stevenage, was first elected in 1997. This is Ms Follett’s first
Ministerial appointment.
Barbara was a Parliamentary Private Secretary to Tessa Jowell as Minister for Women
2005-06 and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 2006-07 and to Ruth
Kelly as Minister for Women 2006-07.
Barbara was a member of the Commons Select Committee for International
Development 1997-2001 and Modernisation of the House of Commons 2001-05.

Barbara has been on the following Commons backbench committees:
- Vice-chair PLP Departmental Committee for Trade and Industry 1997-2000, 2002-
04;
- PLP Eastern Regional Group:
Chair 1999-2006, Hon Secretary 2006-;
- Chair PLP Committee for Women from 2005.
Barbara, Born in Jamaica in 1942, lives in Knebworth with her husband, author Ken
Follett and their two dogs. Between them they have five children and two
grandchildren.
Peter Carlton, Film4
Peter Carlton is Senior Commissioning Executive at Film4, the theatrical feature arm
of Channel 4 Television. His passion for different approaches to film-making and
new talent has borne fruit in a continuing slate of edgy, distinctive films that is at the
heart of Film4's commitment to enlarging the boundaries of popular cinema.
At Film4, Carlton has been responsible for films such as Miranda July’s Me & You &
Everyone We Know (winner of the Camera d’Or and Grand Prix de la Semaine de la
Critique at Cannes 2005), Shane Meadows' This Is England (Best British Film, BAFTA
2008), Julien Temple's The Future Is Unwritten - Joe Strummer, David MacKenzie's
Hallam Foe, Lenny Abrahamson's Garage (Prix FIPRESCI Cannes 2007) as well as
Steve McQueen's debut feature Hunger. In addition, Carlton was one of the architects
behind Warp X, the digital mini-studio in which Film4 is a founding partner, whose
first two productions A Complete History of My Sexual Failures and Donkey Punch
premiered at Sundance 2008.
Cary Sawnhey, Film curator/screenwriter
Cary Sawhney is a film curator and screenwriter with 17 years experience in UK
exhibition sector. He is Director of ImagineAsia Ltd, which aims to promote South
Asian independent film with exhibitors and distributors. His background includes,
Curator or Film Interpretation at National Museum of Media, Bradford, where he set
up Bite The Mango Film Festival; Head of Diversity at British Film Institute where he
led the UK-wide ImagineAsia Film Festival, and he is currently Director of Happy Soul
Film Festival, Official South Asian Adviser to London Film Festival and has strong
links with Indian filmmakers. He is in development with several screenplays.
Asoke Mukerji, Deputy High Commissioner of India
Asoke Mukerji was born in 1955. He is a career diplomat. He joined the Indian
Foreign Service in July 1978.
Prior to his assignment as Deputy High Commissioner of India to the United
Kingdom, Mr Mukerji was Ambassador of India to the Republic of Kazakhstan. He has
been Deputy Chief of Mission in the Embassy of India to the Russian Federation,
Consul General of India in Dubai, Charge d’affaires of India in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan

and Turkmenistan, Consul General of India in the Soviet Central Asian Republics, and
held diplomatic assignments in Belgrade, Washington D.C.
Mr Mukerji was a Delegate of India to the World Trade Organization in Geneva
between 1995-98.
Himesh Kar, UK Film Council
Prior to joining the UK Film Council’s New Cinema Fund as a Senior Executive,
Himesh Kar worked as a development producer at Tony Garnett's World Productions
and as an agent representing writers and directors at the William Morris Agency (UK).
Kar spent two formative years working in Los Angeles, gaining invaluable experience
in films and television. Whilst there he worked for Fried Films (GODZILLA), A Band
Apart (JACKIE BROWN, GOOD WILL HUNTING) and John Wells Productions (ER, THE
WESTWING).
At the New Cinema Fund, Kar oversees the assessment, financing and production of
feature films (ADULTHOOD, BRICK LANE, GENOVA, THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE
BARLEY - Palme D’Or Cannes 2006), as well as overseeing feature documentaries
including MAN ON WIRE, DEEP WATER and LIVE FOREVER.
Paul Mayeda Berges
Paul and his writing partner Gurinder Chadha have collaborated on six
films which have received international acclaim. Their first, WHAT'S COOKING?, was
the Opening Night Film of the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. The film – the first
British script to be invited to the prestigious Sundance Institute's Writer's Lab – was
nominated
for a Humanitas Prize in the States and Best British Screenplay at the London Film
Critics' Circle Awards. The film was voted joint audience award winner in the New
York Film Critics' 2000 season (tied with BILLY ELLIOT). Their next, BEND IT LIKE
BECKHAM, is the highest grossing British-financed, British-distributed film, ever in
the UK box-office. The
award-winning film was a critical and commercial success internationally and
received a Golden Globe Nomination for Best Picture (Musical or Comedy), a BAFTA
Nomination for Best British Film, a European Film Academy Nomination for Best Film,
and a Writers Guild of America Nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
BRIDE & PREJUDICE, their musical which married Jane Austen and Bollywood, was the
first film ever to open at number one in the box office in the UK and India on the
same day. In 2005, Paul directed his debut feature, THE MISTRESS OF SPICES, a
magical tale starring Aishwarya Rai and Dylan Mcdermott, which premiered at the
Toronto Film Festival before its international release.

In 2006, he wrote a segment in PARIS JE T'AIME, in which 18 directors made a short
film about a differnet arrondisement in Paris. Directors included the Coen Brothers,
Alfonso Cuaron, Gus Van Sant, Walter Salles, etc. Berges & Chadha's latest writing
collaboration is
ANGUS, THONGS AND PERFECT SNOGGING, which is being released by Paramount
internationally in 2008/9.
Paul is the former Director of the San Francisco International Asian American Film
Festival. He has taught screenwriting to High School and University students and
programmed films for US Public
Television.
Dina Dattani- Private Consultant
Dattani is a private Consultant now working in Mumbai and London, having qualified
and worked as a Corporate/Commercial Lawyer in London ( as Partner untill 2007).
She headed the Media and Entertainment Practice of Nishith Desai Associates last
year in Mumbai, and now as a Private Consultant is working primarily with
independent film producers, directors, writers and talent in India and from overseas
who wish to make films in India. This work includes financial structuring of film
productions, all legal and tax aspects of the structuring , including negotiating,
drafting all types of media transactions, film production agreement, distribution
agreements. She has also assisted Private Equity investors making investment in the
media industry in India across radio, TV, print, film production companies . Clients
include major studios now doing business in India and most of the media.film
companies in India.
She has also been advising Indian media companies on AIM listing in London and
raising of funds through other capital markets for investment into India.
CLARE CREAN, The Works International
Clare Crean is currently Sales Manager for The Works International handling all rights
deals to territories worldwide. Clare has 15 years of experience in theatrical and
television film sales. Commencing her film career at J&M Entertainment, Clare joined
The Works (formerly known as The Sales Co.) in 1999.
The Works
The Works was established in 1986 and is one of Europe’s leading sales agents.
Over the last few years, The Works has cemented its position in the marketplace with
a string of commercial and artistic successes. In recent years these have included
Michael Winterbottom’s THE ROAD TO GUANTANAMO (Silver Bear, Berlin Film

Festival), IN THIS WORLD (Golden Bear, Berlin Film Festival) and A COCK AND BULL
STORY; Gurinder Chadha’s BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM (box office smash in the UK, US
and worldwide); Niki Caro’s WHALE RIDER (Oscar nomination, Best Actress); Pawel
Pawlikowski’s MY SUMMER OF LOVE (BAFTA, Outstanding British Film); Ken Loach’s
SWEET SIXTEEN (Best Screenplay, Cannes Film Festival) and AE FOND KISS; and Sarah
Gavron’s BRICK LANE.
New titles for 2008 include SOMERS TOWN from director/writer SHANE MEADOWS
(Winner of the Michael Powell Award, Edinburgh 2008) and the multi award winning
MAN ON WIRE from director James Marsh.
The Works International is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Works Media Group Plc.
Mr. Shibasish Sarkar, Reliance
Mr. Shibasish Sarkar is a qualified Chartered Accountant & has done Masters in
Business Administration. He is the CFO of Motion Picture division of Reliance
Entertainment and also heads the Commercial aspect of Production / Acquisition /
Distribution of Motion Picture. He has a vast experience in Entertainment Industry
with prior stints with noted Indian film companies like Studio 18, Percept Picture
Company and UTV.
Prior to Media & Entertainment, he had worked across multiple industries in FMCG
and Manufacturing with brands like Godrej Sara Lee, Shaw Wallace in India and South
East Asia.