Sheffield based Big Buddha Films specialise in making powerful films from the female perspective. Films with real heart and a social conscience. We are passionate about redressing the balance for women working in the film industry and we strive to work with at least a fifty percent female crew.

 ★★★★ ‘Remarkable candour’
The Guardian

‘Takes us over the boundaries of documentary and into the realms of art.
Alice Jolly, The Lancet

Debbie Howard is a film and TV Writer/Director. She was brought up in a working class family from Lancashire, and now lives in Sheffield. She was an actor for twenty five years before she set up Big Buddha Films. Debbie isn't afraid to tackle challenging subjects. She made the critically acclaimed, BIFA long listed feature documentary, Still Loved, the first ever feature doc to look at stillbirth and baby loss. Her latest BFI Network short film, Safe, tackles violence against women in public spaces and is currently screening at film festivals internationally. Safe won Best Screenplay and Best Director at the BAFTA qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival. Her short film Pussy looked at sexual bullying at secondary school. She is currently in development on her feature film, Cold, that looks at teenage homelessness and coercive control, with Wellington Films.

Debbie also works as a freelance television director. She has directed many episodes of television for the BBC, ITV and C5. She Directed Series 2 of The World According to Grandpa, which was nominated for a Royal Television Society NW Award. Drawing on her own extensive experience, she works well with actors, ensuring an excellent on screen performance.

In documentary, she nurtures a deep sense of trust with her participants. Her work has been screened at film festivals all over the world winning both critical acclaim and a number of prestigious screen awards.

Debbie was a mentee on the Women in Film and TV Mentoring Scheme in 2014. She completed Filmonomics in 2017 with Mia Bays of Birds Eye View/BFI. She is keen to champion other women in the film industry. She is a member of Cinesisters, Primetime, Director’s UK and Women in Film and TV. She lectures in film at Sheffield Hallam University. She has been on the jury for several film festivals is a full voting member of BAFTA and BIFA.

Debbie is represented by Andrew Mills at Revolution Talent

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