Deborah Burton

Deborah first worked for UNESCO-backed African publications before programming international film and arts festivals. She was a production assistant for David Puttnam’s company Enigma and went on to be Director of First Film Foundation, working with new directors from the UK, Europe, and the USA, developing and executive producing first films for film and TV, and working with leading producers and directors as mentors. She later became head of development for Patrick Rainsford and actor Gabriel Byrne’s company, Mirabilis – USA/Ireland/UK. Her first short screenplay starred Martin Sheen, and she is a former governor of the London Film School.

A change of direction took her into the NGO sector, first in the peace movement and then, in 2004, she joined the Christian Aid on Trade Justice campaign as Global Campaigner, to popularise the campaign through enlisting internationally recognised ambassadors; delivering high profile events; film and TV projects focused on trade issues. She co-founded Tipping Point Film Fund in summer 2009- it provides support to theatrical feature docs, with integrated campaign outreach, on the big issues of the day. Its primary sponsor is the leading ethical UK business, The Co-operative.