Stern & Wild strengthens its talent pool with a new group of accomplished filmmakers

We are delighted to introduce a new group of six highly talented filmmakers who have recently joined Stern & Wild. These new clients are represented at the agency by either Natalie Spanier or Camilla Chiverton. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with each of them.

Ben Addelman

Ben is an award-winning Director working across feature documentaries, series, branded and commercial projects. He has delivered projects for Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+ / Nat Geo and Vice, along with campaigns for major brands including Toyota and Asics. He has created and directed five feature documentaries in partnership with the National Film Board of Canada and other producers, most recently PLASTIC PEOPLE: THE HIDDEN CRISIS OF MICROPLASTICS which won the 2025 Canadian Screen Award for Best Direction in a Documentary Programme.

Ben’s other credits include directing the branded film MIND GAMES: THE EXPERIMENT for Asics and Prime Video (along with fellow Stern & Wild client Matt Hill); directing, writing and producing the Olivia Colman-narrated Apple TV+ series BECOMING YOU; and directing the North American scenes for the Disney + / Nat Geo series LIMITLESS with Chris Hemsworth.

Adnan Ahmed 

Adnan is an acclaimed Director and Cinematographer with a reputation for crafting cinematic films that explore complex and sensitive subjects. A Grierson-winning and RTS-nominated filmmaker, he has worked across series and single docs for the BBC, Channel 4, Nat Geo and Netflix as well as independent feature documentaries including THE TROUBLE WITH MR DOODLE (Acme Films & Lightbox) and STREET KIDS UNITED which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival.

Adnan’s directing credits include MANHUNT (Minnow Films for Channel 4), BIG ZUU GOES TO MECCA (Acme TV for BBC Two) and CRITICAL: BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH (The Garden for Netflix).

Jenny Ash

Jenny is a boundary-pushing director of premium documentary, drama, and drama-doc projects, celebrated for bold, visually arresting films with a visceral emotional core. A Grierson, Broadcast, and four-time Emmy nominee, she was also the first documentary filmmaker to win the WFTV Best Director Award.

Her most recent feature documentary, FLIGHT 149: HOSTAGE OF WAR (Drum Studios for Sky Docs), which she originated, had its world premiere at SXSW 2025 and stormed the festival circuit on both sides of the Atlantic before launching on Sky Documentaries to widespread critical acclaim.

Her credits include BIN LADEN: THE ROAD TO 9/11 (Voltage TV for Channel 4), THE WORLD’S BIGGEST MURDER TRIAL: NUREMBERG (Middlechild for Channel 5), and Channel 4’s groundbreaking 100 VAGINAS and ME AND MY PENIS (both Burning Bright). Earlier in her career, Jenny directed over 10 hours of BBC drama, including WATERLOO ROAD and PERSONAL AFFAIRS. Her Obama-introduced episode on slavery for AMERICA: THE STORY OF US (Nutopia for the History Channel) went on to win an Emmy.

Stuart “Stu” Bernard

Stuart is a highly sought after Director specialising in sensitive, access-led documentaries. He has delivered projects for all the major UK broadcasters including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Sky Documentaries. A BAFTA, RTS and Broadcast Award winner, Stuart is an accomplished docs DOP as well as Director but is equally at home managing large crews for drama-documentary.

His credits as Series Director include HIGH: CONFESSIONS OF AN IBIZA DRUG MULE (Blast! Films for BBC Three), THE MAN WHO BOUGHT CRICKET (South Shore for Sky Documentaries), THE STORMTROOPER SCANDAL (DSP Films for BBC Two) and the reboot of the award-winning LIFE AND DEATH ROW (BBC Studios Doc Unit for BBC Three) which is currently long-listed for a Grierson Award for Best Returning Documentary Series. Stuart was Consultant Director on the recently screened series CHLOE AYLING: MY UNBELIEVABLE KIDNAPPING (BBC Studios Doc Unit for BBC Three).

Katie Hindley

Katie is an accomplished Series Director and Producer with a track record of creating compelling premium broadcast and branded documentaries. In 2018, she was named a Broadcast Hot Shot Director and was included in the Edinburgh TV Festival’s 2019 Ones to Watch cohort. Her recent directing credits include HOUSE OF KARDASHIAN (72 Films for Sky Docs) and RISE OF THE BILLIONAIRES (72 Films for Paramount+) while her producing credits include JIMMY SAVILLE: A BRITISH HORROR STORY (72 Films for Netflix).

Additionally, she has directed and produced numerous branded documentaries for digital platforms including the online CRAFTSMAN’S DINNER series for The Balvenie which was presented by Michel Roux Jr in the UK and Anthony Bourdain in the US, and a notable series of short campaign films for the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.

Sebastian Smith

Sebastian is a Director, Editor and Writer with a unique visceral and cinematic style. He moved into directing following a successful career as an editor of high-end documentary features, series and drama docs for major UK and US broadcasters including the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky, SyFy, Discovery, Nat Geo and The History Channel. In 2007, he directed a feature length horror film, DEAD WOOD, which was bought by Lionsgate in the US and sold internationally. Since then, he has directed numerous compelling drama docs for leading indies including Raw TV, October Films, Arrow Media and Voltage.

Sebastian’s 2023 Netflix debut, GET GOTTI (Raw TV), hit the No. 1 spot in 14 countries and was in the top 10 in 44 countries. His other credits include RICH AND SHAMELESS (Raw TV for TNT), THE CRIMES THAT CHANGED US (October Films for Discovery) and FAME AND MISFORTUNE (Raw TV for TNT).