Bhula had been in place as interim director since July and will take over with immediate effect

Channel 4 has confirmed that Farhana Bhula has been appointed director of Film4.

She had become interim director in July, after the news of Ollie Madden’s exit. She takes up the permanent position with immediate effect, following an extensive external recruitment process.

Bhula joined Film4 in January 2022 and has overseen feature films including Molly Manning Walker’s debut film How To Have Sex, Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers, plus the upcoming Mark Jenkin’s Rose of Nevada, Oliver Hermanus’ The History of Sound and Philippa Lowthorpe’s H is for Hawk.

She launched Future Takes in partnership with the BFI, currently in its second iteration, to support and nurture emerging talent. Following the success of How to Have Sex, Molly Manning Walker has reunited with the channel on her upcoming TV series Major Players with A24, which Farhana will work on alongside the Channel 4 drama team.

Prior to joining Film4, Bhula was a senior development and production executive at the BFI, where she supported emerging talent and worked on a number of debuts including Charlotte Regan’s Scrapper, Dionne Edwards’ Pretty Red Dress, and Ben Sharrock’s Limbo. She also held positions at Wildgaze Films and Endor Productions.

Farhana will remain on Channel 4’s executive team and senior leadership team, reporting to Martin Baker, chief commercial affairs officer, who has assumed interim responsibility for Film4 under interim CEO Jonathan Allan, and led the external recruitment process.

Jonathan Allan, Interim CEO at Channel 4 said: “Farhana has been a key part of Film4’s success for the last three years, working closely with Ollie Madden. I am delighted that Farhana will take on this hugely important role, after a rigorous and competitive external recruitment process. Farhana’s experience within Film4, dedication to emerging talent and her established industry relationships will deliver a new exciting era and success for our filmmakers and the Film4 brand on the world stage.”

Bhula added: “Film4 has long been the home of original, daring filmmaking that truly cuts through. Under the dynamic and inspiring leadership of Ollie Madden, and alongside the passionate Film4 team, I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the most exciting writers, directors, and producers in the world.

“It’s an honour to now lead Film4 into its next chapter. With a mandate to take creative risks, an ambition to connect British filmmakers with global audiences, and the support of Jonathan Allan, Martin Baker, and the exceptional Channel 4 Executive Team, there really is no place like Film4.”