Charlotte Knowles is a BIFA-nominated Breakthrough Producer and executive whose work is driven by a deep commitment to stories that challenge, entertain and inspire. Over more than a decade working across film, television and immersive media, her projects have screened on the BBC, ITN and Arte, and at major festivals including Cannes Marché du Film. Her credits include the BAFTA Scotland and BIFA-nominated Rebel Dykes (Channel 4), The Medallion (The New Yorker), and Palestine Comedy Club, which premiered at SXSW London and Doc NYC, screened at IDFA, and received four BIFA nominations.
Charlotte is the founder of Tough Crowd, a creative studio working at the intersection of pop culture and politics. Built to develop, produce and distribute work entirely independently of traditional gatekeepers, Tough Crowd represents a model of filmmaking on its own terms. A vocal advocate for a free press and a screen sector less dominated by corporate influence, Charlotte launched Creative HQ as a business accelerator for producers, helping them adopt the practices developed at Tough Crowd and build more self-sufficient, independent studios of their own.
A TEDx speaker, guest lecturer at the University of the Arts London and former CEO of the Independent Film Trust, Charlotte is a recognised leader in creative talent development. Her work in this space has been widely covered by UK and US press, and has led to lasting initiatives with the BBC, BFI and Sony Pictures.
Information for mentees:
- Please arrive 5 minutes early to check in for your mentor session. Late arrivals (anyone not present at the start of their booked session) may lose their slot to a walk-up attendee.
- If a session is fully booked, you’re welcome to try as a walk-up in case a booked attendee doesn’t attend.
- We would recommend preparing a brief introduction about yourself, along with any specific questions or areas you’d like guidance on from your mentor.