Announcing the New Writers Network 2025
Fourteen aspiring screenwriters in Cornwall and Devon have been offered the opportunity to develop their Short Film Script with expert guidance.
The New Writers Network 2025, offers aspiring screenwriters the chance to develop their short film scripts under the mentorship of experienced script editor Laura Jayne Tunbridge, as well as building their creative networks in the region. Screen Cornwall’s New Writers Network programme, supported by BFI NETWORK South West, runs in parallel with the Peninsula Producers Network 2025 which is run in partnership with Exeter Phoenix.
Daniel Howard-Baker
A film editor by day and a screenwriter by night, I have always had a personal and professional interest in the very construction of stories, whether cutting images together or pen to paper. Born in Luton and raised in Plymouth, my interest in writing grew from acting and studying drama at secondary school. Having written a few plays, I have since moved to screenplays and filmmaking. Since graduating from University of Westminster. I have moved back to my hometown of Plymouth as a freelance film editor to explore the filmmaking avenues that the city, Devon and Cornwall has to offer. Screenwriting has always been an on-and-off adventure through the years, mostly predicating on stories of experimental and psychological-surrealist quality, retaining the hope that they are made and screened. With several short films written and produced, I’m now eager to expand into feature-length production, continuing to push creative boundaries and bring unique, thought-provoking stories to audiences.
Tamara Rosenwyn Stidwell
Tamara Stidwell is a Cornish writer based in The Lizard, known for her compelling exploration of sociocultural issues, including housing, identity, and mental health, intertwined with Cornish heritage and folklore. Screenwriter Jane Pugh praised Tamara’s writing as a “human display of fireworks.” Tamara's original plays frequently utilise film to navigate the liminal spaces of time and place, offering depth to characters' inner worlds. Her storytelling weaves a rich tapestry of poetry, local dialect and humour. Tamara is interested in juxtaposition - the magical and the real, the old and the modern, the bizarre and the banal. She often employs dramatic irony to create a disconnect between dialogue and visual narrative. With a unique DIY approach, Tamara has written and created two critically acclaimed multi-media plays, an award-winning stop frame animation, an educational film, and a short. Tamara is currently developing a magical-realism play for The Minack Theatre, and writing a Cornish themed pantomime for her local community.
Robyn Egan
Robyn is a writer/director from Devon. Robyn was awarded the Devon Short Film Commission in 2023, where she wrote/directed and produced her first short. "Dolls" premiered at Two Short Nights Film Festival, winning the Audience Choice Award and has since been selected for BIFA qualifying festivals. Robyn just completed a BFI New Voices:Step Up mentorship with Writer/Director Luna Carmoon.
Thomas Josling
Thomas is an actor and writer from Cornwall. On-screen credits include Masters of the Air and Belgravia: the Next Chapter. His writing centres around Cornish voices, and has a particular interest in amplifying underrepresented communities within the region. He trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and participated in the Clonterbrook Writers’ Residency.
Simon Jenner
I am a filmmaker who has written and directed two short films and produced three others. The first I directed revolves around a couple whose relationship is put under strain in Isolation. The second, The Dog, revolves around a couple arguing about a dog's existence. In each case, intimate relationships were a focal point. I am fascinated by how people interact, especially when forced into proximity. My producer credits include The Fortune Teller, a short film based on the painting by Henry Meynell Rheam, presented at the Penlee House Gallery & Museum in 2024. I associate produced Three Blue Boats, a Cornwall-spanning short film shot on 16mm about two brothers trying to find their way home. Most recently, I produced Outrun the Clouds, in which a young woman attempts to flee her abusive partner. The Dog, The Fortune Teller, Three Blue Boats, and Outrun the Clouds, were all completed within a year. I am determined to develop my knowledge of filmmaking and embrace new artistic approaches. I like a challenge, but I uphold practicality. I aim to spend the next year writing, directing, and producing short films, with the end goal of developing a feature in 2026.
Isla Ley
I’m a south-west based filmmaker and a 2024 BA graduate from the University of Westminster. I specialise in screenwriting. My 2023 experimental short ‘Of the Moon and Stars’ garnered acclaim at the Loudest Whispers LGBTQ+ Film Event. As the producer of comedy drama short ‘Split Ends’ (2024), I am currently overseeing its entry onto the short film festival circuit, and it has recently been nominated at the OFN LGBTQ+ Film Festival. Moving forward, I am particular interested in exploring stories surrounding Cornish and other Celtic identities on screen as well as queer stories that are unique to the region.
Vee Vimolmal
Vee Vimolmal is a Thai actress/writer/director/editor with British/Swedish dual nationality. As an actress she has worked on various British and International films, TV and stage productions (Bridget Jones:The Edge of Reason, Everybody Hates Johan, Dr Who, Sanningen). She has always loved writing but began playing around behind the camera in 2012, writing and directing two self-funded short films (Journeymen, Cracks) which were both screened at the South End Film Festival. She was shortlisted for the Pears Short Film Fund the following year.Her current acting project is BFI/Ffilm Cymru feature film Out There. Behind the scenes she is providing editing support on a series of documentaries by Cornwall Climate Stories. Vee is interested in diverse and multicultural stories not derived from tokenism or stereotype but character driven narratives that hopefully resonate with people regardless of cultural or social background.
Nicola Burrough
After working in the antiques industry, I transitioned into the role of antique advisor and booker for a prop hire company in London, where this pivotal experience allowed me to cultivate valuable connections. After a while I took the plunge, and I went freelance. Starting off with tv commercials, I was then offered the role as a production buyer on a television show that though not a favourite, gave me the opportunity to source (hiring, buying or prop made) an amazing array of props. I was hooked. This job led to opportunities across a diverse array of productions such as BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Netflix, UKTV, and Acorn. Having primarily served as a production buyer throughout most of the career, I stepped up to the role of set decorator, a role I thoroughly enjoy where I can bring my creative visions to life. I have always had the desire to develop a script and witness it come to life. I look forward to sharing my experiences in television with others but also learning and working with experienced script writers on this exciting this New Writers Network project in Devon and Cornwall.
Simon Elvin
Having spent my early years obsessed with film, theatre and music, I secured a publishing and recording contract as a singer-songwriter in my early twenties. I grew fascinated with the idea of storytelling through music and on stage. It was film, however, which had captured my imagination the most since childhood, but this seemed another world to me, one that was somehow unattainable. Keeping my creative activities alive alongside raising a family and doing a day job, I finally moved towards writing for film in 2020, with an undergraduate course in scriptwriting and filmmaking. In 2024 I graduated with distinction from Falmouth University with an MA in Writing for Script and Screen. Alongside my studies I decided to make a film as part of my portfolio. My screen idea, The Websters, grew into a feature-length comedy which, as of October 2024, is nearing completion in post-production as I put the finishing touches to the musical score. Directing, editing and scoring my own writing has been an education in itself, as I’ve learned how the various disciplines are all part of the writing process, and how collaboration can be the magic ingredient in filmmaking.
Laura Canning
Laura Canning is an emerging filmmaker and academic based in Cornwall where she is Production Lead for Sound/Image Cinema Lab, a central hub based at SoFT (Falmouth University) which engages in short and feature film development and production with internal and external production partners. She is committed to telling people-centred stories that help us see others and ourselves, and to being part of a thriving Cornish screen culture. Laura has executive produced and produced a range of short-form work with Sound/Image Cinema Lab, Screen Cornwall and BFI Network. Most recently she has written and directed Bleujyowa (2023) for Screen Cornwall (FylmK) and Second Unit directed for feature The Severed Sun (Dean Puckett, 2024).
Nigel Billing
Nigel is a Cornish Actor, Writer and is currently working towards obtaining a Blue Badge, Devon and Cornwall tour guide qualification. He grew up in Cornwall on the north coast and spent much of his earlier life travelling to surfing destinations around the world. He moved to London when he was thirty to pursue a career in acting and after ten long years decided it was time to move back. Since being home he has been actively pursuing his acting career as well as learning all about his Cornish heritage in order to become a fully qualified Blue Badge guide. He also spends some of his summer working with American students showing them around Britain, Ireland and Northern Europe, with a view to widen their knowledge of the world. He started writing scenes for his showreel and then moved onto his first short that was made in 2022 and was shown at the Cornwall film festival. He is working on his next short, which he hopes to find funding for in the new year.
Emily Joshua
As a disabled, neurodivergent writer, the combination of my years working in theatre and the arts, alongside managing health problems have honed my competencies in diversity and creative writing. With a background in Theatrical Productions, Research and Broadcast at the BBC, writing and illustrating children’s books and a current focus on studying a Masters in Writing for Script and Screen at Falmouth University, my mission is to craft stories that resonate with a wide audience, reflecting my commitment to inclusivity. Alongside my academic pursuit at Falmouth University, I am expanding my portfolio with a mix of short films, animations, and series pitches. I have a wealth of diverse subject-matter to draw upon with which to create pilots for future series in genres varying from fantasy to costume drama, thrillers to comedy and, of course (as a Mum of three), children’s stories. Constantly developing my skills will enable me to create engaging, culturally rich narratives that inspire and entertain.
Lea Judge
Lea Judge is a multi-disciplinary artist working across film, installation, writing and music. Through their work they aim to externalise our internal worlds to facilitate understanding and connection. They enjoy finding the universal relevance in everyday experiences and exploring the messiness of humans. Previously they have been commissioned by BBC New Creatives to make their film ‘Justin, What Have You Done To Us’ and have taken part in the Film Hub North Scratch Me Scheme. Most recently, they were commissioned by O-Region theatre company as part of their ‘From The Horse’s Mouth’ program and have performed at The Harbour International Theatre Festival with The Hooligan Art Community. They have also just released their first single ‘Tooth Police’ with their band Bonanza Jellybean. Alongside their own creative practise they also have several years experience working in production as the in-house production coordinator for Delaval Film where they worked across a range of live action and stop-motion films including Luna Cartoon’s debut feature ‘Hoard.’
Nicole Burley
Nicole has been writing for stage for three years, having previously worked as a theatre director and youth theatre practitioner in London. Last year, Nicole completed her Professional Writing MA at Falmouth University, specialising in screenwriting for her final project. She writes female-focused narratives and is strongly influenced by myth, having studied Classics as an undergraduate. Nicole is currently writing a stage adaptation of The Iliad for the Rose Young Company, alongside developing her own screen projects and delivering writing workshops for young people.
