BAFTA winner inspires Greater Manchester's business women

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Over 70 of Greater Manchester's key businesswomen gathered at the Hilton Hotel on Deansgate for an inspiring presentation by BAFTA award-winning film producer, Leslee Udwin, yesterday.

As part of the series of 'Women in Business' events run by Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Leslee spoke to delegates about her route into the film industry, and some of the projects she has worked on.

Leslee had a successful career as an actress for 15 years, before a high court battle against an unruly landlord prompted her move into film production, as she shadowed the producer who made her story into a television programme.

As well as a hard-hitting documentary about the 'Birmingham Six', which resulted in a successful appeal for their release, Leslee's portfolio includes: East is East, which won the BAFTA award for best British Film in 1998; its sequel West is West; romantic comedy The One and Only; plus Mrs Ratcliffe's Revolution starring Catherine Tate.

Whilst at the event, Leslee also spent time with a group of 10 young people from across Greater Manchester, all interested in a career in the film industry.

Leslee said: "Young people wanting to get into the film industry will probably do it if their passion is strong enough and if it is there for the right reasons.

"Independent films are increasingly difficult to make, fund and get distributed, particularly as we live in a world where the values of film-making are increasingly ignored.

"Successive governments have never valued film enough and its power to improve lives.

"There are fewer opportunities out there, fewer independent films made, and Britain is seriously lagging behind other countries."

She continued: "Young film-makers must focus on the bright side, however. Although the dumbing down of how we tell stories and the techniques we use is not a good thing, the internet has opened up a forum where you can use your mobile phone to at least express your talents to the rest of the world and communicate your story without having to go and raise multi-million pound budgets. Ultimately, the story is the most important thing."

One of Leslee's forthcoming projects that she shared with the group, involves the battle to distribute and show different kinds of films to difficult parts of the world, such as remote parts of India, and areas where governments sensor and control the industry.

Finally, Leslee gave some strong and inspiring messages to Greater Manchester's women in business. She said: "We still have so much to conquer and so much to fight for. As a woman, in the way I live my life, I have so much more to give: courage, tenacity and heart. I have passion to succeed not just in business, but in making the world a better place and that is a really good motivator."