Film London and British Film Commission CEO Adrian Wootton received Honorary Doctorate from University of East Anglia

Norfolk, UK, 10-4-2014 — /EuropaWire/ — Adrian Wootton, chief executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, has received an Honorary Doctorate from UEA at a ceremony for UEA London graduates at London’s Barbican.

Wootton joined UEA’s School of English & American Studies as an undergraduate in 1980 to complete a degree in English American Literature with a minor in Film. This was then followed by a Masters in Film Studies in 1986, where his thesis was titled ‘Selling Out: An Analysis of the British Film Industry, Rock N Roll and Absolute Beginners’.

Wootton’s studies at UEA gave him a foundation on which to grow and develop his career in the film industry. From programming and running arts cinemas in Nottingham and Bradford, Adrian moved to London’s National Film Theatre (now known as BFI Southbank), where he became the BFI’s Head of Exhibition. Later he was Director of the BFI London Film Festival, and also Acting Director of the BFI.

In 2004 Wootton went onto to launch Film London, which will celebrate its 10th Anniversary next month. Over the last 10 years the agency has successfully increased filming in the capital, as well as worked to support the next generation of film-making talent and encourage a rich film culture across the whole of the capital.

In 2011 Wootton also became the Chief Executive of the British Film Commission, the national agency responsible for attracting high-end feature films and television to the UK. Alongside this work Wootton continues to occasionally programme for BFI Southbank, as well as acting as a programme advisor for the BFI London Film Festival.

Dr Keith M. Johnston, senior lecturer at UEA’s School of Film, Television and Media Studies, said: “Since 1986, Adrian Wootton is an alumnus whose career UEA – and particularly the School of Film, Television and Media Studies – has followed with no small degree of pride. At a congregation ceremony that celebrates new expertise in arts, humanities and business studies, it is fitting that our honorary graduate is someone whose career has developed and championed those parallel fields.”

Adrian Wootton, chief executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, said: “I am delighted to be receiving this honorary doctorate. My time at UEA as an undergraduate and postgraduate had a hugely profound effect on my formative future career and my life as I have been lucky to have made lifetime relationships (my wife especially!), friendships with fellow students and lecturers and retained a professional relationship with the university. I am extremely pleased and proud therefore to receive this great honour from UEA today”.

University of East Anglia – Communications Office
Tel: (+44) (0) 1603 593496 Fax: (+44) (0) 1603 259883
Email: press@uea.ac.uk

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