Passion Pictures Signs Head Of Features To Discover Next Generation Of Female Documentary Directors In UK

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: Passion Pictures has snapped up the development exec behind its buzzy Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story feature with a view to discovering the next generation of British female documentary directors.

Emily Jeal takes on the newly-created role of Head of Feature Documentaries. Her hire is partly intended to help free up time for CEO Nick Southgate and Creative Director David Moulton to focus attention on limited and talent-led returnable TV series.

Jeal played a key role in developing Super/Man, the heartwrenching story about Reeves’ life-changing disability that attracted plenty attention at Sundance and was acquired by Warner, while she also worked across Passion’s Kim Kardashian-produced Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar.

Speaking exclusively to Deadline, Moulton said Super/Man was never a “slam dunk project” but Jeal’s “creativity and tenacity” during a lengthy development period was crucial to getting funders on board. “Our sweet spot is commercial projects with a purpose and Emily has special skills in that vein,” he added. “She’s really got into the world of feature docs in terms of understanding that established talent base while trying to work with the next generation and identifying the great British talent within that.” With this in mind, Jeal, whose past employers include British indies Dragonfly and Minnow, is tasked with leading Passion’s charge to bring through the next generation of female directors, and a number of projects on her development slate are helmed by women.