Steve Bowden

I work at the intersection of storytelling and entrepreneurship, empowering creators - whether they’re filmmakers crafting narratives or founders designing new ventures. With 30 years of experience in the film industry and over a decade supporting startups, I bring a unique lens to innovation: one that fuses creative instinct with strategic development.

 

My work as a producer spans award-winning feature films and shorts. I produced The Carer starring Brian Cox and Emelia Fox, which won ‘Best of Fest’ at both the Palm Springs and Edinburgh International Film Festivals. Earlier in my career, I produced School for Seduction, which opened the Dinard and Torino Film Festivals and was distributed by Lionsgate UK. I also produced Prima Primavera, a UK/Hungary/Netherlands co-production starring Andor Lukats and Vesela Kazakova, which screened in competition at Valladolid, Sofia, and Gothenburg film festivals, winning multiple international awards including Best Actor and Best Actress.

 

I’ve produced multiple short films including a slate of distinctive work for the UK Film Council, such as Invertebrate, which won Best Experimental Film at the ECU European Independent Film Festival, and Happy Clapper, selected for competition at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

 

I see filmmaking as a venture, not just an art - and I see entrepreneurship as an art, not just a business model. This perspective informs how I build my own projects and how I support others.

 

I work with filmmakers to navigate the business realities of bringing creative work to life ensuring that the original vision isn’t lost, but supported by structures that allow it to reach and resonate with audiences. I support the development of ideas that are imaginative, purposeful, and resilient - designed not just to launch, but to last.

Maria Forsstrom

I am an accomplished creative producer with over two decades of experience working across film, television, and digital platforms. Entrepreneurial and self-driven, I’ve co-run a production company and built a diverse freelance career, leading award-winning projects from concept through to delivery. I thrive on supporting filmmakers to realise their creative visions while balancing artistic integrity with audience engagement and commercial strategy.

 

My international work has included co-directing the documentary Detras de una Puerta Cerrada in Havana, Cuba, which explores gender-based violence, as well as producing branded content for global clients such as Shell, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Lloyds Bank. I’ve collaborated on projects supported by The Finnish Film Foundation and Eurimages, and produced acclaimed short films like Murmur and Happy Clapper, which have been recognised at festivals and by the industry alike. My earlier experience in production and film financing research has given me a strong foundation in the business side of the screen industries.

 

I’m passionate about championing bold, socially resonant stories and working across borders to bring them to life. Whether I’m developing a new feature, managing a complex production, or collaborating with emerging voices, I bring a hands-on, holistic approach that combines creativity, clarity, and commitment.