Directors UK Updates
DirectorBerylRichardsawardedMBEinKing’sBirthdayHonoursList
Former Directors UK Chair Beryl Richards has been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List for services to Children’s Television.
Beryl Richards is a multi-award-winning film, television, documentary and comedy director. Over her 40-year career, she has developed and directed many popular teens and kids’ series for public service broadcasters – winning five BAFTA awards, an RTS Award, and four International Emmy nominations along the way. Her body of work includes Joe All Alone, Leonardo, My Life as a Popat, The Ward, and Secret Life of Boys.
Beryl joined the board of Directors UK in 2011, and was Chair from 2015-17. During that time, she led our gender equality work, publishing two crucial research reports on women directors’ representation. This led to the creation of initiatives aimed at providing greater access and opportunity to women directors, and these reports are still referenced today. For her gender equality campaigning work in the UK and globally, Beryl won the 2016 Women in Film & TV ITV Achievement of the Year award.
What sets Beryl apart is her drive and dedication to use her creative work to promote inclusivity, raise awareness of children’s issues and women directors, and change the industry for the better. Notably, her feature film script Outsiders about a child refugee won the prestigious VFF screenwriting prize at the Berlinale. Later this year, she will be releasing Hello Stranger, her feature documentary about her adopted son’s life.
Today, Beryl continues to share her knowledge and experience with her community. As an Executive Producer for Eurovision (European Broadcasting Union), she has produced over 200 short films with writers and producers across 40 countries. She has chaired the juries of the BAFTA TV Awards and Young BAFTA Advisory Group, and is an advisory board member for Screen Cornwall and the co-chair of Diverse City/Extraordinary Bodies, an Arts Council-funded theatre and circus company working with disabled and neurodiverse performers.
“I’m honoured to receive this award, as I think it shows that directors have been noticed and that they matter. It reflects the impact directors can have beyond the screen, as they have the power to reflect subjects and causes close to their hearts, and that commitment can lead to real change.””
Andy Harrower, CEO of Directors UK said: “Beryl’s work as a director reflects her passion for inclusion. Standing up for those in the margins – her dedication to making the industry more inclusive has touched the lives of many. An active champion for underrepresented talent on and off-screen, she was the driving force behind our campaigns for women directors. She has been an integral part of the work Directors UK does, and this recognition of her contributions to Children’s TV and the industry is wholeheartedly deserved.”
Anne Morrison, Chair of Sheffield Documentary Festival and Former Chair of BAFTA said: “Beryl is someone who has not only excelled in her craft of film and TV production, but who has always been determined to have an impact on the screen industry for the better. She has been generous with her time in mentoring and supporting development initiatives, and has made outstanding programmes that have made a difference to children’s lives in helping them feel understood. Responsible for one of the most successful campaigns I have ever seen, Beryl brought about real change for female directors, which still has an impact today. The honour is well-deserved.”
Beryl’s work and advocacy continue to have an impact on many directors’ lives and Directors UK wholeheartedly extends our congratulations to Beryl on receiving this honour!
See the full King’s Birthday Honour List here.
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