David Smith Email & Phone Number

Greater Edinburgh Area

Director of Screen Scotland, and a director of Creative Scotland. Our vision for Scotland's film and TV sectors are that they are creatively ambitious and economically sustainable, reactive to change, distinctive, and enjoyed by audiences at home and around the world.

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

Co-founder and MD of Matchlight across the first decade of its operation. During that time we made over 150 hours of high quality factual TV, with a focus on observational docs, arts, history, current affairs and subjects that highlighted mental health issues. The BBC was our most frequent commissioner, across BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four, BBC Scotland, BBC/MG Alba. Was lucky enough to work with some of the most talented people I will ever meet. We won awards, made a difference, and had a high quality threshold.

London, England, United Kingdom

Elected by Scotland's independent production companies to represent their interests within PACT Council. Sat on full PACT Council and Nations & Regions subcommittee. Worked successfully to influence positive change in PACT's stance on Ofcom's "Out of London" production quota rules. Started successful campaign to secure a Channel 4 production hub for Glasgow during this period. Left when I moved out of production to join Screen Scotland.

Supported productions across a range of factual and scripted genres, including multiple series of Location Location Location. Worked as part of the senior management team that delivered the sale of the business to RDF.

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

Supported factual, drama and children's TV productions, helped deliver the merger with Ideal World that led to the creation of IWC Media, now part of Banijay, and arguably Scotland's most successful independent TV production company.

Trained with Richard Findlay, Scotland's preeminent media lawyer across the 1990s and into the 21st century. Film, TV and music clients were all served by Richards dedicated media law team.

Edinburgh City, Scotland, United Kingdom

Worked with Penny Thomson and Mark Cousins, building the profile of the Festival with UK and international press and media. With Mark's support and encouragement went on to devise, develop and produce the EIFF's dedicated music video strand, Mirrorball. Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry, Jarvis Cocker, Jonathan Glazer and Sophie Muller were all part of our early programmes. Mirrorball went on to tour Europe, Australia, Japan and the USA, and spawned two series of documentaries on music video directors for C4.

Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

Cinema programmer, occasional projectionist, and marketing assistant. I helped launch the Riverside Screen, a regional film theatre supported by the Scottish Film Council and the BFI. Jim Jarmusch, Spike Lee, Hal Hartley, John Sayles, David Lynch, Wim Wenders, Penelope Spheeris, and Jean-Jacques Beineix were all up on the screen alongside retrospectives and art house hits like Manon des Sources (which played for weeks).

Ba Law

Diploma, Legal Practice