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 has screened at over 50 film festivals internationally winning multiple awards including Best Screenplay and Best Director at 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, and a short film Roach, with Wellington Films.

Debbie also works as a freelance television director. She has directed many episodes of television for the BBC, ITV and C5. 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 is part of the BIFA Springboard cohort 2025 and her mentor is Penny Woolcock. She 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 has been on the jury for several film festivals is a full voting member of BAFTA and BIFA. She is also the Career Support Manager for Screen Yorkshire’s Connected Campus.

Debbie is represented by Andrew Mills at Revolution Talent

Follow Debbie on BlueSky