Swindon filmmakers, Create Studios, celebrate their new home

On Thursday 15th June 2023, our festival director, Bobbie, and Head of Communications, Clegg, attended the launch event of the new home of swindon based filmmaking company, Create Studios.

Create Studios have recently moved into the former GWR Carriage works in the heart of the Railway Village in Swindon.

SwIFF Team members, Bobbie (far left) and Clegg (second from left) with Angela Atkinson (centre), Matt Holland (second from right) and Cllr Marina Strinkovsky (far right)
Photo Credit: Kris Talikowski

The event was attended by local people from Swindon, including young people who were currently working with Create, alongside some noteable alumni like esteemed filmmaker, David Yates.

David worked with Create Studios back in the 1980’s and went on from his time in Swindon to create some of the most well-knwon films of the modern day, including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 1 and part 2, and the Legend of Tarzan.

The team from Swindon Independent Film Festival were invited to a pre-launch event, hosted by Shahina Johnson MBE, CEO of Create Studios, where David gave a run-through of his career and then led an a question and answer session with the audience.

Create Studios Staff team with Shahina Johnson MBE on the left and David Yates in the centre.
Photo credit: Kris Talikowski

Later in the afternoon, the launch event got started. With speeches heard from Shahina and David, as well as from the leader of Swindon Borough Council, Cllr Jim Robins, and Cabinet Member for Arts, Culture, and Hertitage at Swindon Borough Council, Cllr Marina Strinkovsky and Phil Gibby, Director of Arts Council England South West.

It was a great event to be a part of and the team at SwIFF look forward to exploring opportunities to work together with the brilliant team at Create Studios in the future. Thanks to Shahina and the team for inviting us to the special day.