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Creative Enterprise is delighted to announce the latest cohort of Fast Forward, our growth-focused business support programme designed to help ambitious screen businesses strengthen their commercial foundations, unlock new opportunities and accelerate sustainable growth.
Sponsored by Barclays and delivered through Creative Enterprise with BFI National Lottery funding, Fast Forward brings together a cohort of founders from across the screen industries who are ready to take the next step in their growth journey.
Over the next six months, participants will take part in a tailored programme of expert-led workshops, one-to-one mentoring, peer learning and strategic business development support. Designed specifically for established businesses working across film and television, games, immersive and createch, Fast Forward focuses on helping founders build more resilient, scalable and commercially sustainable businesses.
A defining feature of Fast Forward is its specialist mentor team, each bringing expertise in a different aspect of business growth. Participants will work closely with mentors including Aimee Bateman (People, Values and Recruitment), Cecilia Thirlway (Communications and Brand), Martin Backlund (Content, Distribution Strategies and Investment), Sandra Tusin (Financial Planning and Investment), Tim McSweeney (Innovation and Process), and Travis Baxter (Revenue Growth and Governance).
Together, they will help founders navigate the opportunities and challenges that come with growth, providing practical guidance, challenge and support tailored to the needs of each business.
Let's meet the 2026 Fast Forward Cohort:
Aaron Brookner - Pinball London
Pinball London is an independent film and television production company founded in 2009 by Paula Vaccaro and co-led with Aaron Brookner. It develops, produces and co-produces fiction, documentary and hybrid work for international audiences. Its films have premiered at Sundance, Berlinale, Venice and Locarno and received more than 100 international awards. Credits include Listen, Diciannove, Uncle Howard, NOVA ’78 and restorations of Burroughs: The Movie and Robert Wilson and the CIVIL warS. Alongside production, Pinball is expanding international partnerships, distribution and archival licensing, including sales of its catalogue and a curated selection of award-winning independent titles, building recurring revenues and global reach.
Asa Movshovitz - Keyframe Studios Ltd
Keyframe Studios is an independent animation studio founded in London in 2009 by animation director Asa Movshovitz. We develop original stories and create animation for television, digital platforms and brands, with credits including Dead Pixels, Melody and Dive In and Do It. Combining extensive production experience with emerging technology, we are expanding into AI-assisted filmmaking, production tools and consultancy. Our work includes developing www.Shotroom.ai with technology partners and delivering industry training through ScreenSkills. We help creators and production companies explore practical, responsible uses of AI while continuing to develop distinctive characters, compelling stories and original intellectual property for international audiences.
Charlie Gauvain - Eye Film
Eye Film is an established independent production company based in Norwich, with more than 50 years’ experience creating film and television for broadcasters, businesses, brands, universities, schools and cultural organisations. With hundreds of hours of broadcast production for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and UKTV, we combine strong editorial storytelling with commercial production expertise. Our distinctive talent-development model brings emerging filmmakers into professional production. Eye Film is now looking to evolve beyond a predominantly project-based model, developing scalable products, services and original IP that generate recurring revenues, reach new markets and harness emerging technologies, while building on our expertise in education, skills and content production.
Dominic Rees-Roberts - Borderpoint Films Ltd
Borderpoint Films is an independent production company specialising in science factual content. Our mission is to make engaging and entertaining content that grows specialist factual audiences and brings new viewers to the genre.
We are platform agnostic and craft content to reach audiences wherever they may be. We draw on our extensive skill set working for major broadcasters to get viewers hooked early and watching to the end.
We don’t just tell stories about science; we also do science for real. Our new innovative virtual reality product Depict VR is being developed to help improve young people’s mental health.
We are platform agnostic and craft content to reach audiences wherever they may be. We draw on our extensive skill set working for major broadcasters to get viewers hooked early and watching to the end.
We don’t just tell stories about science; we also do science for real. Our new innovative virtual reality product Depict VR is being developed to help improve young people’s mental health.
Gurch Singh - Create Studios
Create Studios are a team of passionate filmmakers, digital creators, and storytellers who are dedicated to producing impactful productions through film, photography, and animation.
As a Community Interest Company, we pride ourselves in making a positive impact on the communities we live in. Our profits are reinvested into creating opportunities for the next generation of diverse talent in the digital industry. Through our groundbreaking mentoring programme, we empower young people to find their voice, independence, and confidence to break into the digital world. We work with a wide range of clients, from ordinary people with extraordinary insights to some of the biggest brands and world-class sports clubs and athletes.
As a Community Interest Company, we pride ourselves in making a positive impact on the communities we live in. Our profits are reinvested into creating opportunities for the next generation of diverse talent in the digital industry. Through our groundbreaking mentoring programme, we empower young people to find their voice, independence, and confidence to break into the digital world. We work with a wide range of clients, from ordinary people with extraordinary insights to some of the biggest brands and world-class sports clubs and athletes.
Laura Taylor-Williams - ScreenHer
ScreenHer® is an independent media company dedicated to amplifying the voices of women+ and non-binary creators and filmmakers. It has built a reputation through festival curation, event moderation and distribution work, alongside a growing Instagram channel spotlighting films by women+ talent. ScreenHer® is currently raising investment to launch a curated streaming platform, satisfying audience desire and demand for stories told on women+ creative terms, and giving rightsholders a dedicated home to reach them.
Martyn Niman - King Bee Animation
King Bee is an independent animation and creative studio based at Elstree Film Studios, founded in 2003. For over 20 years, we’ve combined limitless imagination with characters and stories that connect emotionally with audiences. We create 2D, CG, mixed-media and immersive content for broadcasters, brands, agencies and education, including the BBC, ITV, LEGO and DC Comics. Alongside commissioned work, we’re building an exciting original IP slate spanning feature films, series and digital-first brands, including Soul Jump – an immersive family entertainment brand combining animated characters, original music, live performance and audience interaction – alongside animation workshops empowering young people through creativity.
Michelle Hands & Zoe East - She who dares wins productions Ltd
She Who Dares Wins is a film production company dedicated to telling the stories of women history overlooked. From pioneers and trailblazers to everyday heroines whose courage shaped the world around them, we bring forgotten voices to the screen with honesty, passion and craft.
We believe powerful stories have the ability to change how people see themselves and what they believe is possible. Every film we make is designed to move, challenge and inspire audiences, proving that bold women have always been there, doing extraordinary things, even when no one was recording it.
Our mission is simple: dare to tell the stories that deserve to be heard.
We believe powerful stories have the ability to change how people see themselves and what they believe is possible. Every film we make is designed to move, challenge and inspire audiences, proving that bold women have always been there, doing extraordinary things, even when no one was recording it.
Our mission is simple: dare to tell the stories that deserve to be heard.
Nicola Sands - Applehead Media Ltd
Applehead Media is an award-winning video production company specialising in helping UK utilities, regulated organisations and businesses communicate complex, high stakes issues with clarity and impact.
Founded by former ITV news journalist Nicola Sands and her lighting camera husband Stephen, Applehead combines journalistic storytelling expertise with creative digital production to turn technical messages into engaging, accessible stories that build understanding, trust and action.
Applehead partners with organisations strategically to raise awareness, strengthen public trust and communicate messages that matter.
Founded by former ITV news journalist Nicola Sands and her lighting camera husband Stephen, Applehead combines journalistic storytelling expertise with creative digital production to turn technical messages into engaging, accessible stories that build understanding, trust and action.
Applehead partners with organisations strategically to raise awareness, strengthen public trust and communicate messages that matter.
Penny Beeston - Beeston Media Ltd
Beeston Media is a Bristol-based, full-service video production agency specialising in high-impact visual storytelling for the science, technology, and higher education sectors. We translate complex concepts, cutting-edge research, and disruptive technologies into compelling video content. From filming advanced AI supercomputers to producing content for top-tier academic institutions and innovation hubs, our team combines scientific understanding with broadcast-quality production standards. We help pioneering businesses and institutions build authority, engage stakeholders, and drive growth through high-value video and motion assets.
Rob Hifle - Lux Aeterna VFX
Lux Aeterna is an award-winning VFX studio creating work for film, television and immersive media, trusted by global clients including Netflix, BBC, Apple, Disney and Amazon.
Our portfolio spans scripted and unscripted work, from documentary and factual to drama and narrative storytelling, with credits on some of television's most iconic series, from Blue Planet to The Crown.
We're more than a VFX vendor. We're a creative technology studio, driven by curiosity about where visual effects can go next. By embracing new technology early, we offer our partners an ambitious alternative to the industry norm.
Our portfolio spans scripted and unscripted work, from documentary and factual to drama and narrative storytelling, with credits on some of television's most iconic series, from Blue Planet to The Crown.
We're more than a VFX vendor. We're a creative technology studio, driven by curiosity about where visual effects can go next. By embracing new technology early, we offer our partners an ambitious alternative to the industry norm.
Ross Gill - Fresh Ground Films
Fresh Ground Films is a story-led film studio based in Devon, making human films across research, health, education, environment and social impact. We combine close listening, editorial judgement and documentary craft to find and shape stories that feel true, useful and memorable. Fresh Ground Films is a Certified B Corp™ and works with clients including universities, NHS organisations, charities, public-sector teams and purpose-led businesses. Our aim is simple: stories with soul.
Tom Chown - Digitom
Digitom creates people-led films that help organisations communicate with clarity and purpose. Drawing on almost 30 years of broadcast and digital storytelling experience, our approach combines curiosity, empathy and editorial rigour to uncover the human stories behind organisations. We create films for People & Culture, Communications and Learning and Development, helping organisations engage audiences, share best practice and support positive change. Working alongside trusted creative specialists, we deliver purposeful content that creates meaningful connections and lasting impact.
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A special thanks to ABC Buildings, our venue partner, whose support helps bring the Fast Forward community together.
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Over the coming months, participants will explore key topics including growth strategy, product-market fit, revenue development, governance, finance, investment readiness and long-term business resilience, culminating in a clear plan for sustainable growth.
The Fast Forward programme forms part of Creative Enterprise's commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and businesses working in moving image storytelling, helping founders develop the skills, confidence and connections needed to build successful and sustainable screen businesses.
For more information about Fast Forward, visit:
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