I write, direct and have produced short form film projects. My work explores post-trauma, queerness and faith. I have a BA in Classics from Durham and am interested in mythmaking as a means of processing the incomprehensible.
You Look Fine, my debut short as writer/director, presents the inner world of Syd, who experiences PTSD during a seemingly routine doctor's appointment, following a recent incident of sexual assault.
You Look Fine was awarded Best Writer at the 2022 BFI Future Film Festival and the Women's Rights Prize at the 24th edition of Très Court International Film Festival in Paris. We also screened at BAFTA-recognised Cambridge Film Festival, and at the Academy-qualifying festivals Brussels Short Film Festival and interfilm Berlin.
My forthcoming project, The Styx, has received development support from Arts Council England. It is a hybrid project between opera, poetry and film, whose plot draws inspiration from the myth of Persephone, Queen of the Underworld. It is being made in partnership with the Writing Squad and PTSD UK, with guidance from EMDR UK.
Annabel Smith in You Look Fine (2021) © Katie Byford
debut short: You Look Fine
2021, writer/director
Starring Annabel Smith as Syd and Sarah Flower as Doctor Kemp. Produced by Kirsty Dua & Katie Byford.
Edited by Stella Heath Keir. Cinematography by Dominika Besinska. Production & costume design by Maddalena McNicholas. Full credits here.
Edited by Stella Heath Keir. Cinematography by Dominika Besinska. Production & costume design by Maddalena McNicholas. Full credits here.
Syd attends a doctor's appointment while coping with PTSD symptoms, following a recent incident of sexual assault.
Awards: Best Writer, BFI Future Film Festival 2022. Women's Rights Prize, Très Court International Film Festival.
Festivals: interfilm Berlin (Academy Award-recognised), Brussels Short Film Festival (Academy Award-recognised), BFI Future Film Festival (BAFTA-recognised), Cambridge Film Festival (BAFTA-recognised), Très Court International Film Festival.
forthcoming project: The Styx
writer/director, supported by Arts Council England
Writer/director: Katie Byford. Score: Athanasia Kontou. Producer and soprano: Helene Mathiesen.
In partnership with the Writing Squad and PTSD UK, with advice and support from EMDR UK.
Supported by Arts Council England.
In partnership with the Writing Squad and PTSD UK, with advice and support from EMDR UK.
Supported by Arts Council England.
The Styx combines poetry, film and opera. A woman receives therapy for PTSD; in a parallel plane, she is guided through Hades by Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld, and called to process the ghosts of her traumatic past.
The text and score for The Styx was developed, recorded and mixed with the assistance of a project grant from Arts Council England. An accompanying film is in development.
producer credits
Toby Parker Rees, 'the great dog Pan' (2021). Commissioned by Film and Video Umbrella.
Kondo Heller, 'MU/T/T/ER' (2021). Commissioned by Film and Video Umbrella.
'Tea with Lemon' (2018) by Robert Harrison
Guy Oliver, 'You Know Nothing of My Work' (2020). for the Jerwood/FVU Awards 2020: Hindsight, a collaboration between Jerwood Arts and Film and Video Umbrella.
PRODUCER
Gayle Chong Kwan, A Pocket Full of Sand (2024). Produced by Katie Byford. Commissioned by Film and Video Umbrella.
Exhibitions: installed at John Hansard Gallery until 11 May 2024.
Exhibitions: installed at John Hansard Gallery until 11 May 2024.
Myriam Rey, absent landscapes (2023). Produced by Katie Byford. Commissioned by Film and Video Umbrella.
Ruth Maclennan, Treeline (2021). Commissioned by Film and Video Umbrella and Forestry England. Watch the film.
Exhibitions: John Hansard Gallery, Whitechapel Art Gallery for Artists' Film International, The ARC, University of Glasgow.
Exhibitions: John Hansard Gallery, Whitechapel Art Gallery for Artists' Film International, The ARC, University of Glasgow.
Toby Parker Rees, the great dog, pan (2021). Produced by Katie Byford. Commissioned for BEYOND by Film and Video Umbrella. Watch the film.
Festivals: Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival, Cornwall Film Festival.
Festivals: Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival, Cornwall Film Festival.
Kondo Heller, MU/T/T/ER (2021). Produced by Steven Bode and Katie Byford. Commissioned for BEYOND by Film and Video Umbrella. Watch the film.
Festivals: Berlinale Forum Expanded; Third Horizon Film Festival.
Festivals: Berlinale Forum Expanded; Third Horizon Film Festival.
Guy Oliver, You Know Nothing of My Work (2020). Produced by Katie Byford. Music by Suzy Davies. Cinematography by Jamie Quantrill. Production design by Maddalena McNicholas. Commissioned for the Jerwood/FVU Awards 2020: Hindsight, a collaboration between Jerwood Arts and Film and Video Umbrella.
Awards: The Jarman Award, Film London (nominated); Film London Lodestars (best performer).
Exhibitions / Festivals: Jerwood Space, London; Margate Film Festival; Nottingham Contemporary.
Robert Harrison, Tea with Lemon (2018). Produced by Katie Byford and Max Hatfield. Starring Luis Amália and Maja Bloom.
Festivals: Flickerfest International Short Film Festival; London Lift-Off Film Festival; Oslo Independent Film Festival; Short to the Point.
Awards: The Jarman Award, Film London (nominated); Film London Lodestars (best performer).
Exhibitions / Festivals: Jerwood Space, London; Margate Film Festival; Nottingham Contemporary.
Robert Harrison, Tea with Lemon (2018). Produced by Katie Byford and Max Hatfield. Starring Luis Amália and Maja Bloom.
Festivals: Flickerfest International Short Film Festival; London Lift-Off Film Festival; Oslo Independent Film Festival; Short to the Point.
Robbie Bryant, 'Thousand Yesterdays' (2019)
Cassiah Joski-Jethi, 'Catch a Butcher' (2021). A BFI Network Short from Tedium Entertainment
Ruth Maclennan, 'Treeline' (2021). Co-commissioned by Film and Video Umbrella and Forestry England. Supported by John Hansard Gallery and Hunterian, University of Glasgow.
CO-PRODUCER / ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Tom Young, Jim (2022). Produced by Thomas McDonald. Associate Producers Alessandro Luchetti and Katie Byford. A BFI Network short film from Tedium Entertainment.
Awards: Best Actor, Iris Prize Co-op Audience Award; Best British Short, Earl's Court Film Festival; Best Costume Design, British Short Film Awards;
Awards: Best Actor, Iris Prize Co-op Audience Award; Best British Short, Earl's Court Film Festival; Best Costume Design, British Short Film Awards;
Cassiah Joski-Jethi, Catch a Butcher (2021). Produced by Thomas McDonald and Maria Matei. Starring Ramanique Ahluwalia, Manpreet Bambra and Faith Knight. Cinematography by Robbie Bryant. Co-produced by Katie Byford. BFI Network Short Film from Tedium Entertainment.
Festivals: Cambridge Film Festival 2021; Underwire 2022; Flatpack Festival 2022; London Indian Film Festival 2022.
Festivals: Cambridge Film Festival 2021; Underwire 2022; Flatpack Festival 2022; London Indian Film Festival 2022.
Robbie Bryant, Thousand Yesterdays (2019). Written by Rhys Hills and Robbie Bryant. Produced by Fred Bonham Carter, Thomas McDonald, Alessandro Farrattini Pojani and Franziska Lindner. Starring Paul Copley and Timothy Innes. Cinematography by Robbie Bryant. Associate producers Katie Byford and Alessandro Luchetti. Produced by Tedium Entertainment.
Festivals: Norwich Film Festival; European Cinematography Awards; Lift-Off Cinematography Showcase; The Shortest Nights
Festivals: Norwich Film Festival; European Cinematography Awards; Lift-Off Cinematography Showcase; The Shortest Nights
links to other work:
