Sylvia Bednarz has been named as the new Managing Director of British documentary charity, The Grierson Trust.
Bednarz was Director of Partnerships and Operations at Sheffield Doc/Fest and also spent time as its interim Managing Director.
She’ll join The Grierson Trust in September, ahead of its 50th Anniversary awards.
“Sylvia is a fantastic appointment. She has the perfect combination of experience, contacts and knowledge of factual filmmaking to lead The Grierson Trust through the next phase of its development,” explained Lorraine Heggessey, Chair of The Grierson Trust.
“She will build on the excellent work of the current team, as The Trust continues to champion the art of the documentary through the annual awards for excellence as well as growing its reputation as a training organisation that nurtures new talent, opening the door for under-represented groups.”
Current MD, Jane Callaghan, is retiring later this year, following two decades at the organisation.
“I’m thrilled to be joining The Grierson Trust as Managing Director. It is truly my dream job – to nurture the next generation of documentary storytellers and celebrate the most exciting and innovative work within our sector,” said Bednarz.
“It’s also a privilege to build on the legacy of Jane Callaghan’s 20 years at The Trust. My time at Sheffield DocFest has been a total joy. I have worked with an extraordinary team (past and present) and have been supported by a wonderful Board of Trustees. I can’t wait to return to DocFest next year with a new cohort of Grierson DocLab trainees!
“The Grierson Trust has enormous potential to create even greater impact in addressing the current skills gap in documentary and factual production. I look forward to working with the exceptional team, trustees, as well as new and existing industry partners to create further opportunities for fostering documentary talent.”
The Grierson Trust was founded in 1972 to commemorate Scottish documentary-maker, John Grierson. In addition to its Awards, it also helps to promote and nurture factual television talent through the Grierson DocLab training and mentoring schemes.
