Em J. Gilbertson (they/he) is a trans writer/director from Liverpool, interested in exploring complicated queer stories that feature dance, spoken word and music in innovative and unorthodox ways.
Currently Em is working towards their debut feature: THE PIGEON HEART. They have recently taken part in the UK New Wave Genre Lab supported by the BFI and Reclaim the Frame's Filmonomics course with the project. They were also shortlisted for BFI Network with their short Lonelier Than Love, exploring transness and addiction.
A graduate of the prestigious NFTS' Directing Fiction course and a Channel 4 Scholar. Their graduation film: Requiem starring Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us and Game of Thrones) was the Winner of Best Postgraduate Drama at the Royal Television Society Student Awards 2022 and has been selected at multiple BAFTA and ACADEMY AWARD qualifying film festivals.
Since graduating, Em has done some second unit directing on BBC's "Silent Witness" and ITV's "Malpractice". Previously Em shadowed BAFTA nominated Phil Barantini and the legendary Mary Harron.
Em's previous work: Crashing Waves saw a lot of success on the festival circuit and was Broadcast on Channel 4 as part of Series 5 of Random Acts. The film was nominated for the Iris Prize, gained a Vimeo Staff Pick and was an official selection for #fivefilmsforfreedom presented by the British Council and BFI Flare in 2019.
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