The Grierson Trust has announced the appointment of three new patrons, Dorothy Byrne, Asif Kapadia and Louis Theroux.

They join the Trust’s existing patrons, Sir David Attenborough, Nick Broomfield, Christopher Hird, Kim Longinotto, Charlotte Moore, Norma Percy and Sir Grayson Perry.

Grierson Trust Patrons represent the Trust by “lending their knowledge, influence and contacts to help bolster the charity’s work in fostering a strong, vibrant and diverse community of documentary filmmakers.” This includes the Grierson DocLab programmes which provide industry-led training and mentoring opportunities for new entrants, along with reskilling and career development for freelancers, in partnership Prime Video, Netflix, The Rank Foundation, ScreenSkills and Banijay UK, together with 20 leading indies across the UK. The Trust also runs the annual British Documentary Awards.

Lorraine Heggessey, Chair of the Grierson Trust said: “Dorothy, Asif and Louis are all previous winners of the Grierson Trustees Award, recognised for their passion and commitment to creating documentaries of the highest standard which have changed the way we see the world around us. Asif has elevated the feature documentary genre, drawing millions of people in to watch films on the big screen around the world, Dorothy has fearlessly championed powerful, agenda-setting journalism and supported the careers of women within the industry, and Louis has reshaped the genre and encouraged and supported the next generation of documentary talent. We are thrilled to have them join as patrons of the Grierson Trust.”

Dorothy Byrne said: “Excellent documentary films about the UK and the world are vital for our society and democracy, but their existence is under constant threat. The Grierson Trust is in the forefront of ensuring major documentary films continue to be made and showcased by championing those who make them and nurturing diverse new talent. The prestigious Grierson Awards are the most important documentary awards in the UK. I am honoured to become a Patron.”

Asif Kapadia said: “It’s an absolute honour to be joining the Grierson Trust as a Patron. I have a long history with the Griersons – I studied John Grierson’s films while at film school, my film AMY won the Best Arts Documentary in 2016, and I’m proud to have received the Grierson Trustees Award in 2020. Over the years I’ve been on Grierson Award juries, given talks to young filmmakers, and graduates from the Grierson DocLab programmes have worked on my films. It’s always been important to me to give something back to industry and I hope that being a Patron will help inspire the next generation of documentary makers.”

Louis Theroux said: “I feel very honoured to be invited to become a Patron of the Grierson Trust. I am not by nature a ‘joiner’. But I have made an exception in this case because of the value I place on non-fiction storytelling, its reach and its special power, and because I would like to be part of involving a new generation in everything it has to offer. I became a documentary presenter by accident. Mainly it was thanks to other people believing in me and encouraging me. It was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Now I would like to pass that on.”

This year’s Grierson British Documentary Awards ceremony takes place on 6th November at Roundhouse in Camden, London. For more information about attending the awards ceremony on 6th November go to:

www.griersontrust.org/grierson-awards/ceremony/

Jon Creamer

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