Alex Thomas
agent: Natalie Spanier - natalie@sternwild.com
BAFTA, Grierson, RTS and Broadcast nominated filmmaker – Alex Thomas makes distinctive, warm and authentic films, with a strong visual aesthetic often exploring sensitive issues through communities often overlooked by mainstream media.
Recently selected as a BAFTA Breakthrough Director – Alex is currently directing his first Feature Documentary with an Academy Award winning global production company.
A trained architect – Alex discovered his passion for storytelling building a school in rebel-controlled Colombia – he picked up a camera to give his adoptive community an opportunity to share their story, kickstarting a multimedia journalism career covering stories in all seven continents in the world – for both NGOs( UNICEF and Save The Children )and publications (New York Times and The Guardian.)
Alex’s unique childhood and life experience overseas have fuelled his passion to amplify the voices of underrepresented groups. Alex thrives outside of his comfort zones and readily traverses the faultiness of race, class, culture and language to find common ground with his contributors His BANFF-winning series Who Are You Calling Fat (BBC2) gave a voice to the growing population of larger-bodied people
A specialist in sensitive, content-rich observational films. Alex uses personal stories to explore bigger issues, with real authenticity–including the highly personal film about his own father, the highly commended Yorkshire Cop: Police, Racism and Me (C4) and Broadcast nominated Britain’s Secret War Babies (C4)
And as a trained journalist – Alex combines a natural curiosity and instinct for a good story with strong journalistic rigour. When he noticed young people communicating on social media apps through unusual emojis, his curiosity led him to decode a lesser-known illicit drug trade and secure his first commission – Stacey Dooley Investigates: Kids Selling Drugs Online (BBC3)
Alex is also an award-winning international photographer, and his films have a strong creative vision, setting the style guide and tone for series such as the multi-award-winning series returning series Rap Game UK (BBC3)
An ability to remain calm in high-pressure situations and rapidly changing environments is also a hallmark of Alex’s filmmaking. From negotiating a safe passage in cartel-controlled Mexico when his team was interrogated by the Sinaloa Cartel when making a documentary about El Chappo – Manhunt (Nat Geo) to the recent series of Broadcast and RTS nominated Africa Renaissance (BBC2) where narrative and contributors were ever-changing.
Committed to developing emerging filmmakers that better reflect the world we live in Alex has teamed up with C4 and We Are Parable to mentor the next generation.