UKFC adds to development team

Collins, Franke join Seghatchian

By ADAM DAWTREY

LONDON — Chris Collins and Lizzie Franke have joined the U.K. Film Council in the role of development producers.

Their appointment is part of the restructuring of the UKFC’s Development Fund under its new topper Tanya Seghatchian.

Collins, whose producing credits include “Brick Lane,” will manage the new Feature Film Development Program, which is dedicated to supporting filmmakers with proven track records.

Lizzie Franke, previously exec producer at regional screen agency EM Media, will run the First Feature Film Development Program, which aims to identify and back fresh talent.

She will also be in charge of the fund’s regional and diversity initiatives.

When Seghatchian took over the UKFC Development Fund earlier this year, she decided that she wanted a team of execs with experience of working as indie producers.

Collins worked with her on Pawel Pawlikowski’s “My Summer of Love,” and also had producer credits on “Four Last Songs” and “Tomorrow La Scala!”

Prior to EM Media, where she backed pics such as Anton Corbijn’s “Control,” Franke worked at Little Bird Films. She’s also a former artistic director of the Edinburgh Film Festival.