Directors UK Podcast
Directors UK
Available on Apple, Spotify, and wherever you get your pods.
The Directors UK Podcast allows the listener to attend our member events with top directors. Hear what directors have to say when they speak to a room of their peers, and gain exclusive insight into their creative process.
Directors UK is the professional association for UK screen directors. With over 8,500 members, we represent directors’ rights and concerns, promote excellence in the craft of direction and champion change to the current landscape to create an equal opportunity industry for all.
The Directors UK Podcast allows the listener to attend our member events with top directors. Hear what directors have to say when they speak to a room of their peers, and gain exclusive insight into their creative process.
Directors UK is the professional association for UK screen directors. With over 8,500 members, we represent directors’ rights and concerns, promote excellence in the craft of direction and champion change to the current landscape to create an equal opportunity industry for all.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 29, 2025 • 49min
Olaide Sadiq and Toby Trackman on Grenfell: Uncovered
Olaide Sadiq’s directorial debut Grenfell: Uncovered examines the disturbing chain of events that led to the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, giving survivors, bereaved families and firefighters a platform to share their story.
In the latest episode of the Directors UK Podcast, recorded live at our exclusive member event last month, Olaide sits down with fellow documentary director Toby Trackman, to discuss how she became involved with the project, her approach to working with collaborators and the responsibility she felt towards them as director, and what it was like working with Netflix on this project.
Jun 11, 2025 • 54min
Shannon Murphy and DoP Annika Summerson on Dope Girls, with Illuminatrix and FOMO House
Recorded live at a Directors UK members event, in partnership with Illuminatrix and FOMO House, director Shannon Murphy and DoP Annika Summerson explore their recent collaboration on BBC drama Dope Girls, in a live discussion moderated by DoP Susanne Salavati.
Shannon and Annika share how their creative partnership evolved during filming.
Image Credit: BBC/Bad Wolf/Grant Royce
Mar 28, 2025 • 1h 19min
Working with a Casting Director: A Masterclass on Queenie
Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the casting process behind Channel 4 series, Queenie, in the latest episode of the Directors UK Podcast.
Recorded live at our career development masterclass last Autumn, Director (episodes 1-4) Joelle Mae David, Casting Director Aisha Bywaters, and lead actor Dionne Brown, explore the show’s approach to casting. Director James Kent hosts their conversation.
Listen to the discussion wherever you get your podcasts.
Feb 17, 2025 • 55min
In Conversation: Sean Baker on Anora
Sean Baker is In Conversation with Ian Haydn Smith on directing Anora. Sean shares his experience casting and working with Mikey Madison, what it was like shooting on a tight budget, and how the story grew from the film's locations.
Image credit: Christopher Andreou
Feb 13, 2025 • 56min
In Conversation: John Crowley on We Live In Time
John Crowley is on the Directors UK Podcast speaking to Anna Bogutskaya on what went into directing We Live In Time.
John shares his experience in the edit, his approach to rehearsals, as well as what challenges come from working on a non-linear story.
Feb 7, 2025 • 59min
In Conversation: Brady Corbet and Sam Mendes on The Brutalist
Brady Corbet is on the Directors UK Podcast, In Conversation with Sam Mendes on what went into directing The Brutalist.
Brady reflects on the importance of a director’s creative vision, and his journey bringing this epic story to screen.
Jan 30, 2025 • 58min
In Conversation: Greg Kwedar on Sing Sing
Greg Kwedar shares the work that went into directing his latest film Sing Sing.
A stirring true story featuring an ensemble cast of formerly incarcerated actors, Greg talks about how he worked with the cast to translate real experiences into powerful scenes, and how he practised filmmaking “in community” on the set.
Jan 23, 2025 • 1h 3min
In Conversation: Ellen Kuras on Lee
Ellen Kuras speaks about what went into directing her latest film Lee, which tells the true story of American photographer Lee Miller on her quest to document the truth of the Nazi regime.
Ellen discusses what sparked her interest in Lee Miller’s work, her approach to telling a story through images, and her commitment to telling this story from a woman’s perspective.
Jan 16, 2025 • 54min
In Conversation: Jesse Eisenberg on A Real Pain
Recorded live at our In Conversation members event in December 2024, Jesse Eisenberg is on the Directors UK Podcast speaking to Sandra Hebron about his latest film A Real Pain.
Jesse shares his process, how his work as an actor prepared him for directing, and the risks he’s glad to have taken as a filmmaker.
Jan 9, 2025 • 44min
In Conversation: Shiori Itô and Jeanie Finlay on Black Box Diaries
On the Directors UK Podcast, journalist and filmmaker Shiori Itô discusses her debut feature documentary Black Box Diaries, In Conversation with Jeanie Finlay.
Shiori shares how the documentary format gave her more freedom to tell her own story, and helped facilitate her own investigation into her sexual assault in an effort to prosecute her high-profile offender.
