Em Smith

Em Smith is a Bristol based director and acting coach. A graduate of the NFTS Directing Fiction MA, where she was sponsored by Channel 4 and the David Lean Foundation. Her comedy drama short RAPTURE was supported by the BFI Network and stars Lydia Page, Jessica Hynes, and Siobhan Finneran. Em was on the BFI Shorts2Features scheme. Recently she directed splinter unit scenes for Sky’s INHERITANCE. Last year she was child acting coach on soon to be released BAD APPLES featuring Saoirse Ronan. Em was John Crowley’s assistant on critically-acclaimed LIFE AFTER LIFE (House/BBC) and shadow director on BOARDERS (BBC) shot in Bristol.

Featured as one of Channel 4’s Spotlight on Directors in 2018, Em’s shorts have screened at BAFTA and Oscar-qualifying festivals worldwide. With a background in theatre making, she has worked with companies including Kneehigh, Bristol Old Vic and Sydney Opera House. Whilst working at CTVC, Em cast Children’s BAFTA winning dramas LIKE ME and REFUGEE. She tutors for the BFI Academy Craft Skills at the NFTS, the Amazon Prime Director’s Workshop and at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Em was selected as a Clore Emerging Leader in the Arts. As a collaborator she’s much like a good jumper - warm, bright and reliable.