Chairs appointed at UK Screen Alliance and Animation UK

Rowan Bray, Managing Director of the Clear Cut Group, has been appointed Chair of the UK Screen Facilities Council. The appointment was announced by UK Screen Alliance in partnership with Animation UK, alongside the appointment of Ruth Fielding, joint founder of Lupus Films, as Chair of the Animation UK Council. These appointments ensure that the 200+ member companies of UK Screen Alliance and Animation UK continue to have a strong voice in the advocacy and policies pursued by the organisation, and that it is member-led for the benefit of all its members and the wider industry.

Rowan Bray has built her whole career around post-production, starting in bookings and working up to running some of the biggest post houses in the UK. She now leads the Clear Cut Group, comprising several award-winning post houses that specialise in all forms of non-scripted television and feature documentaries. As well as her day job, Rowan is heavily involved in training initiatives for the wider sector, including apprenticeships, and developing projects to help reduce the sustainability impacts of post-production for the whole sector.

Rowan Bray: MD of Clear Cut Group said:
“The work of UK Screen has never been more important than now With so much upheaval in the sector amid wider economic challenges, the association can provide targeted support to its members while celebrating their work, showcasing global pre-eminence in the skills and services on offer. I am looking forward to supporting their extensive and ambitious programme of policy, lobbying and promotion for the Post-Production, VFX and Animation sectors.”

Ruth Fielding has 25 years’ experience in the animation industry and has produced feature films, TV series and TV Specials for all the major UK broadcasters and streaming platforms. Ruth was one of the animation producers who sat on the UK Government’s Treasury Working Group in 2013 to create the Animation Tax Credit and was a founding member of Animation UK. Films that Ruth has produced include much-loved family classics like, Ethel & Ernest, Kensuke’s Kingdom, The Snowman and The Snowdog, and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. Ruth is a muti children’s and film BAFTA nominee and won an International Emmy Kids Award for The Tiger Who Came to Tea.

Ruth Fielding, joint founder and MD of Lupus Films said:
“I am delighted to be ‘giving back’ as it were, to the industry which has helped shaped my career. It gives me great pleasure to be at the forefront of the next chapter of Animation UK as we strive forward in our lobbying and advocacy to create an even stronger industry for the future.”

Kate O’Connor will continue to support Animation UK as Strategic Lead, working alongside the Animation UK Council and its new Chair to help shape and deliver the organisation’s policy, advocacy and industry engagement priorities.

Kate O’Connor, Strategic Lead-Animation UK, said:
“Ruth is a hugely respected figure across UK animation, and her experience and insight will be invaluable as Chair of the Animation UK Council. A strong industry chair is vital to ensuring Animation UK remains member-led and focused on the needs of the sector, and I look forward to working closely with her.”

Neil Hatton MBE, CEO of UK Screen Alliance said:
“These two new chair appointments of highly respected figures in their fields, strengthens our governance and purpose. The chairs will ensure that we remain a highly focussed organisation, delivering advocacy, knowledge, and exclusive benefits for all our member companies. I cannot think of two better people than Ruth and Rowan to guide us in that quest.”

UK Screen Alliance is the trade association that represents Visual Effects (VFX), TV & Film Studios, Post Production and Animation in the UK. It is the membership organisation for over 200 leading employers in this sector, and its primary purpose is advocacy for its member companies. UK Screen Alliance and Animation UK operate as single organisation, but under two brands that reflect the different priorities of our diverse membership. While our animation members often generate intellectual property, our post production and visual effects members are service companies to the film and TV industry.
The organisation’s successes have included: persuading the UK government to increase the tax incentives for VFX and animation; keeping the industry working during the pandemic by issuing approved guidance for safe working practices; trailblazing the creation of apprenticeship standards and adapting national skills policy to be relevant for our sector; promoting the animation, VFX and post production sector through familiarisation visits, festivals and markets.