Amma Asante

Amma Asante is a writer and a director, began her film and television career as a child actress, appearing as a regular in the Grange Hill. She fronted the "Just Say No"campaign of the 1980s and was one of nine Grange Hill children to take it to the White House. She went on to appear in other British television series including Desmond's (Channel 4) and Birds Of A Feather (BBC1) and was a Children's Channel presenter for a year. Asante left the world of acting and made the move to screenwriting with a development deal from Chrysalis, two series of the urban drama Brothers and Sisters, which Asante wrote and produced for her production company and BBC2. A Way Of Life was her directorial debut, premiering at the Toronto Film Festival and winning 17 International Awards for writing and directing including The London Film Festival's inaugural Alfred Dunhill UK Film Talent Award, The Times Breakthrough Artist of the Year at The South Bank Show Awards and the BAFTA Carl Foreman Award for Special Achievement by a Writer/Director in a debut film. The film also won Best Dramatic Feature in World Cinema at the Miami International Film Festival, Best Feature at the FIPRESCI and 4 BAFTA Cymru awards including Best Director and Best Film. Asante's second feature Belle is based on a true story, developed with producer Damian Jones and produced by The BFI, Pinewood Pictures, Isle of Man Film, and Bankside Films.