FT2 Patrons
Mike Leigh
Writer-director Mike Leigh was born in 1943 in Salford. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, at Camberwell and Central Art Schools, and at the London Film School.
His first feature film was Bleak Moments (1971); this was followed by the full-length television films, Hard Labour (1973), Nuts in May (1975), The Kiss of Death (1976), Who’s Who (1978), Grown-Ups (1980), Home Sweet Home (1982), Meantime (1983), and Four Days In July (1984), which was shot entirely on location in Belfast.
His later feature films are High Hopes (1988), Life Is Sweet (1990), Naked (1992), Secrets and Lies (1996), Career Girls (1997), Topsy-Turvy (1999), All Or Nothing (2002), and most recently ‘Vera Drake’ (2004).
Secrets & Lies and Topsy-Turvy had nine Oscar nominations between them, Topsy-Turvy winning two. In 1994, Naked won Best Director and Best Actor at Cannes, where two years later Secrets & Lies won the Palme d’Or and Best Actress. Vera Drake won The Golden Lion and the Best Actress at Venice in 2004, as well as six BIFA’s, 3 BAFTA’s including Best Director, and three Oscar nominations
Mike Leigh has also written and directed over twenty stage plays, the best known of which is Abigail’s Party, which he also directed for television, and which was recently revived at Hampstead Theatre, where it was originally performed in 1977.
In Autumn 2005, Mike Leigh’s latest play Two Thousand Years has been enjoying a successful run at the National Theatre in London, while next door, the National Film Theatre has presented a complete retrospective of Mike Leigh’s films.
Roy Lockett
Roy Lockett is Vice Chair of London Central Learning and Skills Council and is actively engaged with the TUC on London training issues. Formerly Roy was Deputy General Secretary of BECTU and a Chair of FT2's Board of Management. He is the Vice Chair of BECTU's History Project and of Camden Jobtrain.
Sarah Radcylffe
Sarah Radclyffe co-founded Working Title in 1984 with Tim Bevan and whilst there produced several films including MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE, WISH YOU WERE HERE and A WORLD APART. Following the acquisition of Working Title by Polygram in 1993, Sarah left to pursue a more independent career and set up her own company, Sarah Radclyffe Productions. Since then, she has produced or executive produced, amongst others, SECOND BEST, COUSIN BETTE, LES MISERABLES, THE WAR ZONE, RATCATCHER, THERE’S ONLY ONE JIMMY GRIMBLE, LOVE’S BROTHER and TARA ROAD. Sarah served on the board of Channel 4 and the BFI between 1997 and 1999 and the UK Film Council from 1999-2004.
