Lift off for the DCF at a star-studded House of Lords launch

Two weeks ago, The House of Lords was the venue for a star-studded launch reception for the Directors Charitable Foundation (DCF) — an organisation that exists to support and celebrate stage and screen directors and their work.

Lord Puttnam and the DCF trustees hosted a number of high-profile guests — including Sir Alan Parker, Lord Melvin Bragg and Stephen Poliakoff — in the Attlee Room, where they heard from DCF Chair Vladimir Mirodan, and trustees Madani Younis and Piers Haggard about the DCF’s activities and priorities. They were even treated to their own DCF cocktail: The Director.

(Pictured: Lord Puttnam)

The Directors Charitable Foundation was first formed in 2015, and draws on the experience and resources of the Directors Guild Trust, Directors UK and Stage Directors UK. A Board comprised of representatives from all three constituent organisations guides the work of the Foundation. 

(Pictured left to right: Dan Zeff, Bill Anderson, Steve Smith, Elaine Pyke, Sharon Maguire, Stephen Poliakoff, Sir Alan Parker, Dennis Davidson)

The evening’s attendees learned about some of the DCF’s priorities. These include support for directors in economic difficulties — something addressed by the Directors Support Scheme, and access to the profession from all backgrounds, particularly via the Directors in Schools Programme, which you can find out more about in this article by director Deborah Paige. 

(Pictured: Piers Haggard OBE)

Representatives had come from all over the industry - a testament to the broad reach of the Foundation. These included Dennis Davidson of the DDA, Robert Delamere of Digital Theatre, writer/producer John Lloyd, actor Clare Holman, agents Sue Rodgers and Nick Marston,  and producers Steve Abbott, Holly Kendrick, Elaine Pyke and Moira Ross. 

(Pictured left to right: Adel Al Abudulkarim, Moira Ross, Marion Comer, Liane Kalkutschke)

Directors UK was also well represented. CEO Andrew Chowns and Chair Steve Smith attended, along with Board members Darcia Martin, Bill Anderson, Anna Thomson and Dan Zeff. DCF Vice Chair Tom Roberts, Sharon Maguire, John Goldschmidt, Nikolai Foster, Timothy Sheader, Simon Palmer, Kerry Michael and SJ Clarkson were among many other directors there to toast an exciting organisation with a bright future, both supporting and celebrating the craft of direction. 

You can find out more about the Directors Charitable Foundation at www.directorscf.org.

Scroll below for more pictures from the evening. 

SJ Clarkson and Andrew Chowns. 

Pictured left to right: Kerry Kyriacos Michael MBE, Moira Ross, Ed Booth, Timothy Sheader.

Pictured left to right: Darcia Martin, SJ Clarkson, Stephen Poliakoff.

John Goldschmidt and Steve Smith. 

Lord Melvyn Bragg.

Pictured left to right: Annabel Bloxham, Joyce Hytner OBE, Jim O’Hanlon.

Madani Younis.