April Newsletter

After another busy month here at SAW, we are pleased to bring you another round-up of all our news and updates. Firstly, if you haven’t done so already, we would like to encourage you to create a profile on our website (here). This is an incredible place to showcase any credits, skills, and links to previous work. It also keeps you up to date with all vacancies that we advertise and automatically signs you up to our newsletter. If you already have an account on our directory, do make sure to keep all your details updated with your most up-to-date information.

Vacancies:

As always, we would like to start off by highlighting all the opportunities that are currently available over on our vacancies page. This is regularly updated, so make sure to keep checking the page on our website here. With more roles available before, now is such a great time to explore the varied roles that are on offer to join the booming Film and TV industry in Wales.The following vacancies are available on our website:

S4C is seeking:
-Archive and Content Delivery Lead
-Social Media Lead
-Head of Technical Services

Bad Wolf is seeking an Art Department Assistant

In this newsletter, we’re celebrating the brilliant women behind our industry. This month, we’re speaking with Nicola Pearcey, CEO at Facilities by ADF.

SAW: Thank you so much, Nicola, for chatting with us! Nicola, can you tell us a little bit about your role at Facilities at ADF?

Nicola: I am delighted to have joined as the new CEO of Facilities by ADF plc. Having spent the majority of my career across film and TV, I’m incredibly passionate about content creation, much like the producing clients we support.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked across a wide range of business environments — from founder-led, family-run companies and independent production, through to major studios including Lionsgate, Disney and MGM. What drew me to ADF was its strong reputation, solid foundations and clear growth potential.
I’m proud that Facilities by ADF delivers best-in-class physical production facilities and services across the film and TV industry. This includes expert on-location hire through Location One and portable roadway solutions nationwide via Autotrak. We’ve supported a number of major productions over the past year, including Black Doves, Ted Lasso, The Witcher, The Gentlemen, Rivals and Young Sherlock.
My focus is on driving growth while continuing to deliver the highest level of service to our producing partners, alongside a strong commitment to sustainability and making an impact where it matters most.

S: We’re very excited to have you on board with such a fantastic company! What makes you excited about the future of ADF?

N: What excites me most is that ADF is perfectly positioned for what’s coming. The UK is one of the most sought-after production destinations in the world, and we are proud to be a key part of the servicing infrastructure that makes that possible.
We’re a driving force in sustainability – it’s important to support our producing partners in ensuring we have the which is no longer a nice-to-have, it’s a deal-breaker for productions. We’re ahead of the curve on that.
And frankly — I’m excited because there’s real growth to unlock – we’re just getting started.

S: The drive for sustainability within ADF has been very inspiring, and we look forward to what you have in store! How did your journey in this industry start?

N: I was very fortunate to find my first job work with the amazing team at MGM on the James Bond franchise amongst other releases and never looked back.  It was an incredibly exciting yet terrifying time as I was nervous at the start.  
From there I moved to Disney, and once again as per all my roles in the industry, was incredibly lucky to be surrounded by a brilliant team of people with an amazing infrastructure, working across some incredible franchises, feature films and series. Later, I spent nearly 15 years at Lionsgate, my last role was as President for UK & Europe across film and TV.  It was an amazing journey to be part of as the company grew to the brilliant studio that it is. Most recently, I was CEO and founder of Picnik Entertainment, a production and distribution consultancy and advisory, before taking on the CEO role at ADF.

S: If you were to give advice for anyone starting out in this industry, what would it be/

N: Back yourself. This industry is full of brilliant people – it’s easy to think that you need to keep waiting until you feel ready. You won’t ever feel completely ready. Say yes, show up, and figure it out as you go.  Don’t be afraid of making decisions.  And don’t hesitate to ask questions.  Listen well, learn well and strive for the best. And enjoy the job you’re doing! 

S: Great advice! You’ve had an amazing career. What would you say is the highlight so far?

N: Honestly, there have been so many — but if I had to pick one today, it’s being one of the very few female CEOs on the London Stock Exchange. Taking on the role at ADF felt like a real milestone — not just for me personally, but in terms of what it represents for women in leadership in this industry.  It’s really important for me to see more women in great roles, whatever stage of their careers, on and off screen.  
And then on the creative and commercial side, the James Bond years will always hold a special place. Starting your career on those films, working with people like Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson leaves a mark.  The first Hunger Games, La La Land, and all those other gems are hard to forget, and I’ve been so lucky to have played my part

S: It’s amazing to see women paving the way in this industry and the next. 
What are 3 things in your role that you can’t live without?

N:
-My family. It’s all for them.  -A brilliant team around me and great communication – both internally and client side.  This is who you’re working with day in, day out.    You’re striving for the best for your clients and can only do it with the right team who show up.  I’m so proud of the ADF family even after such a short space of time.  Our world class NPS score demonstrates that excellence in delivery because of our team’s passion to deliver the best service possible.
–Good snacks.

S: If you could have any superpower to help in your role, what would it be?

N: To be in multiple places at once.

S: That would come in handy!  If you had to work on any film/TV series, past or present, what would it be? 

N: Let’s just say I’ve had my fair share of incredible content to work on.   Long may that continue – with friends of old and new ones alike.  Independent film, Madfabulous, shot in North Wales and directed by Welsh legend Celyn Jones was an absolute joy to work on and is releasing in cinemas in June.  I cannot wait to see how it performs.  The Mad As Birds team are just one example of an amazing production team to work with, and I’m proud to have executive-produced alongside Sean Marley and the brilliant Nadia Jaynes. 

S: Agreed! It looks FAB! ADF has been a part of the SAW family from the beginning. Why did ADF decide to sponsor SAW? 

N: As a company, ADF’s story began in Bridgend as a small, family-owned operation and has grown into a nationwide business with bases across the UK. A key foundation for that growth is the talent, commitment, and skill of our brilliant team in Wales.
Our relationship with Screen Alliance Wales reflects something we value deeply: the long-term strength of our industry depends on access, opportunity, and development at every stage. SAW plays a vital role in opening doors, developing talent from all backgrounds, and ensuring Wales remains a competitive and inclusive hub for the wonderful film and TV productions that are filmed here — many of which we’ve been fortunate to support over the years.
Sponsoring SAW is important to us because it reflects our commitment to their brilliant organisation, and to investing in the long-term future of an industry we all love working in and are proud to be part of.

S: Thank you so much for speaking with us, Nicola, and we look forward to the future of ADF and its family companies!

Bad Wolf

We are thrilled to announce a major step forward in our sustainability journey at Wolf Studios Wales.
We have officially installed a brand-new Rainwater Harvesting System, which now services the facilities in both Stage 2 and Stage 4. By capturing and repurposing natural rainfall to supply our toilets.
This initiative isn’t just about new tech; it’s about real results.
Our new system is projected to save 400,000 litres of water annually.
This is a proud moment for the Pack as we continue to find innovative ways to minimise our environmental footprint and keep our production stages as “green” as possible.

Bad Wolf is thrilled to partner with the National Film & Television School (NFTS) to launch a brand-new bursary designed specifically to support Welsh talent.

This initiative offers a unique opportunity for Welsh students to train on the prestigious NFTS Directing Fiction MA, with support from the Welsh Government via Creative Wales.

You’ve got until 7^th May to apply.

Interested in finding out more? Click here.

University of South Wales

We are beaming with pride for the students at the University of South Wales following their incredible performance at this year’s RTS Cymru Awards.
It was a night to remember for the next generation of Welsh creatives. As a collective, USW students took home a staggering 8 awards and earned 13 nominations across a wide variety of categories, including Drama, Documentary, Animation, and more!
A massive congratulations goes out to every single winner and nominee. The evening was a brilliant showcase of the talent coming out of Wales right now.
We can’t wait to see the incredible work they produce next as they begin their professional journeys.

Dragon Fire and Safety

Dragon Fire & Safety has had a busy start to the year, continuing to support Welsh-based film and television productions with practical health and safety, fire risk management, location risk assessments and specialist risk review across complex filming environments.
It has also been fantastic to see a number of productions we have supported reach the screen and perform so well, including Under the Salt Marsh, Industry S4 and The Other Bennet Sister. Across these and other productions, Dragon Fire & Safety has played a range of roles, from health and safety consultancy and production safety support through to water safety, fire safety, SFX support and higher-risk activity planning.
Andrew Hearne, Director of Operations at Dragon Fire & Safety, said:
“It’s been great to see productions we’ve supported reach audiences and do so well. Our focus is always on helping creative teams work safely without slowing down the production process. Good safety should feel practical, proportionate and embedded into the way a production operates.”
Dragon Fire & Safety remains committed to supporting productions, studios and industry partners across Wales with clear, production-aware safety advice that helps ambitious creative work happen safely and effectively.
To find out more about Dragon Fire & Safety and the services we provide, please visit:
www.dragon-safety.co.uk

Facilities by ADF

Facilities by ADF are dedicated to making our industry, a greener place- Following on from Earth Day which took place earlier this month, the theme – Our Power, Our Planet, highlights that meaningful environmental change comes from collective action – small steps taken together.

Facilities by ADF know facilities play a critical role in that progress across our industry, and they’re committed to helping lead positive change through their offering -supporting productions with more sustainable solutions and continuing to work closely with streamers and industry partners to explore new ways forward.

Year on year, they’re making measurable progress, and they’re proud of the momentum they’ve built – alongside their commitment to keep pushing further.

The results shared here reflect just some of the positive changes they’ve seen from their 2025 data.

There is more good progress continuing into 2026, as they remain focused on advancing their sustainable journey.

Want to find out more? Click here.

Real SFX

We’re very proud to share that we have been re-awarded our place on the BAFTA albert Suppliers Directory for the second year running. This recognition reflects our continued commitment to sustainable practices and innovation across all areas of our work.

We’re also delighted to have been nominated for two awards at the Cardiff Life Awards – Sustainability and Community Impact. It’s a real honour to be recognised in these categories, which sit at the heart of what we do as a company.

Attending the RTS Cymru Awards was an inspiring night celebrating an incredible amount of talent across the industry, with Danny and Carmela presenting a postgraduate award. We’d like to extend huge congratulations to all the winners and nominees, and a special mention to Bad Wolf and Jess Gow for winning the Sustainability Award, which we were also up for. While we didn’t take home the trophy, we’re incredibly proud to have contributed to The War Between the Land and the Sea, which won the category.

A huge thank you to everyone who continues to support KIT4CREW across the UK – your contributions are making a real difference. Special thanks to Leverage Point Entertainment for their ongoing support.

It was also very exciting to attend Sky’s The Prisoner screening in Cardiff, released on 30th April. It’s an outstanding production, and we’re very proud to have been part of bringing it to life. We’re also very excited for the upcoming release of Believe Me on ITV in May.

We’ve also been working across the country on a number of high-end programmes and adverts, delivering some exciting action sequences. Huge thanks to our brilliant crew for their hard work, and to everyone for the ongoing support, and we can’t wait to be able to share more.

Lights, Camera, Cymru!

Back last month Lights, Camera, Cymru! Premiered their 2025 production ‘Over the Rainbow’ at Chapter Arts Centre. The film, funded by Caerphilly Arts Development, Screen Alliance Wales, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, and the University of South Wales with equipment and post production services provided by Films@59, had 16 SAW trainee crew positions across all stages of production.
If you missed the premier, ‘Over the Rainbow’ is screening once again at Chapter at their may edition of their monthly Chapter Movie Maker event. Limited tickets available via the chapter website.
 
The first stage of the 2026 scheme was our call out for the Screen Alliance Wales funded Writers room, where three aspiring writers based in Wales will attend a writers room with professional writer Joseph Lidster, and LCC resident director, Andrew Creak.
 
While callouts for the writers room is now closed, aspiring writers should keep your eyes on our socials as a free to attend event with Joseph Lidster will be helped on the evening of the 21st May at the University of South Wales. More details about that will be revealed shortly.
 
Crew trainee positions will also be announced soon on our social media, so if you wish to be one of the paid trainees on this years LCC production, make sure to polish off your CV and keep an eye on our socials for more details in the coming months.

While call-outs for the writers room is now closed, aspiring writers may be interested in attending a screening of ‘The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Mad Woman in the attic’ followed by a Q&A with the episodes’ writer Joseph Lidster. It will be held at the cinema at The University of South Wales, The Atrium, and is free to attend. You can get your free tickets here

Crew trainee positions will also be announced soon on our social media, so if you wish to be one of the paid trainees on this years LCC production, make sure to polish off your CV and keep an eye on our socials for more details in the coming months.

Wales Screen Academy

Wales Screen Academy were honoured to sponsor the ‘Undergraduate-Drama’ category at this year’s RTS Cymru Awards. Supporting the growth of emerging talent is at the heart of what we do, and seeing the calibre of work this year was truly inspiring.

The award was presented by our very own Carol Jones (North Wales Manager) alongside Ruth McElroy (Head of School of Arts at Bangor University).

A huge congratulations to ‘Pinch of Fantasy’ for taking home the award! It was a well-deserved win in a highly competitive category.

We also want to extend our congratulations to all the other nominees. Reaching this stage is an incredible achievement and a testament to the hard work and creativity currently flourishing in the Welsh creative industries.

BAFTA Cymru

BAFTA Guru Live Cymru
Wednesday 13 May, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff
Wednesday 20 May, Pontio, Bangor

Back for 2026! Guru Live Cymru returns with sessions taking place at both Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff and Pontio in Bangor!

Do you know someone who wants to get into the screen industries? BAFTA Cymru’s upcoming festival Guru Live Cymru might be able to help them. 

Guru Live Cymru is a series of events for emerging talent and career starters in film, games and TV, which aims to help level the playing field and offers invaluable insights from experts in the screen industries. 

Sessions this year include Writing for Comedy with Katy Wix, scoring original music for Film, Games and TV, and managing a portfolio career, to name a few!

Discover all the sessions and book here: https://linktr.ee/baftacymru

Screen Alliance Wales

We are delighted to announce a new addition to the Screen Alliance Wales family. Please join us in giving a warm welcome to our newest sponsor, 24-7 Drama.
24-7 Drama is a powerhouse in the industry, known for providing bespoke, custom camera packages tailored to suit all production budgets. Whether it’s a large-scale feature or an intimate indie project, they bring the tools to bring any vision to life.

Managing Director (SAW), Allison Dowzell:
“We’re proud to welcome 24-7 Visual Impact as a Screen Alliance Wales sponsor, bringing industry-leading visual expertise to support skills, training, and opportunity in Wales. We’re excited to build a strong working relationship with a company that shares Screen Alliance Wales ethos of opening up opportunities to all.”

We are excited to share the launch of the Wales Production Directory, the single national crew database for the Welsh screen industry.
Created in partnership with Creative Wales and supported by Culture Connect, this one-stop platform is designed to be the central hub for the industry. Whether you are a production looking for local expertise or a creative seeking your next role, this directory makes finding talent in your area easier than ever.
Haven’t signed up yet?
https://www.screenalliancewales.com/production-directory/

We have some brilliant news to share this month: ‘Everything is Waves’ has taken home the top prize in the Documentary Category at this year’s Buntingford Short Film Festival!

A massive congratulations to Cris Saavedra and the entire team for this fantastic achievement. It is a well-deserved recognition of the hard work and storytelling that went into this project. We also want to extend our congratulations to all the other nominees for their incredible contributions to the festival.
If you haven’t had the chance to experience this award-winning documentary yet, now is the perfect time to see what all the buzz is about.
Click here!

Have you got a short film that you’d like to get shown to a wider audience? Get in touch with us at SAW and consider the opportunity to be a part of our SAW Showcase.
The SAW Showcase is a YouTube channel designed to give Welsh creatives the opportunity to get their work shown to a wide, and diverse audience, it’s a great opportunity to gain exposure, not just for you, but for your cast and crew as well.
 
Interested in finding out more? Email us [email protected]

We are incredibly proud to announce that ‘Farming: Kemi’s Story’ has been officially shortlisted for this year’s prestigious Sony Future Filmmaker Awards.

Director Abdoul Ceesay will be heading to Los Angeles for an exclusive 4-day industry immersion at Sony Pictures Studios. This unparalleled experience offers a front-row seat to the inner workings of the film industry, alongside top Sony Pictures executives.
Keep an eye on this space! We’ll be sharing updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses from Abdoul’s journey to Hollywood.

It was a brilliant evening at this year’s RTS Cymru Awards Ceremony, where the industry came together to highlight the incredible established and up-and-coming talent flourishing here in Wales.
We are bursting with pride for our team and collaborators who were recognised for their outstanding work.
A massive congratulations to Tia-Zakura Camilleri for winning the Post Grad-Short Form Factual category for the powerful Ya Bilaadi.
Huge congratulations to our Vocal Histories Directors, Sita Thomas & Mattiesse Bennet for their well-deserved nominations—Sita for Mwslima Run Club and Mattiesse for Butetown Mona Lisa.
A special shout-out to our Rising Star, Amani. While she may not have taken home the trophy this time, she is a star in our eyes today and every other day!