Company History

Vita Nova Films is a feature film production company based in the North East of England, which has a set of strategic relationships with production companies, facilities houses and financiers across Europe.

Managing Director and Senior Producer, Steve Bowden, has developed, line produced and produced feature films beginning with Nasty Neighbours - the feature film debut of director Debbie Isitt, followed by Sue Heel's School for Seduction, and most recently the comeback movie of Hungarian director Janos Edelenyi, Prima Primavera.

In addition to producing many short films, television and cross platform projects, Steve spent seven years as the joint managing director of one of the UKs most prolific feature film co-producers, Ipso Facto Films.

Steve is a graduate of the European Audio Visual Entrepreneurs programme (EAVE), Strategics Film Finance Forum and Strategics Film Marketing Workshops. He has a track record of developing new writing and directing talent and has lectured on film development and production throughout the UK and Europe. He is a member of the European Producers Club, a Senior Tutor for the Media Business School and a Digital City Business Mentor.

Originally from Finland, Maria Forsstrom moved to the UK in 2004 to study Cultural and Media studies at the University of Sunderland.

She joined Vita Nova Films, in August 2006 and has been involved in the management of all Vita Nova Films feature and short film productions. Maria has attended various training courses including Drama Production Management at National Film and Television School in London and Producing Training Course, Film Program Cannes, during Cannes International Film Festival in 2008.

Maria is currently producing three short films for the UK Film Council.