Isabel Davis, Executive Director
Isabel leads Screen Scotland. From 2011–2018, Isabel was the BFI’s Head of International. In a role combining editorial, production and policy expertise, Isabel delivered the BFI’s international strategy. Isabel negotiated film co-production treaties with China, Brazil and led on the building of industry relationships with those countries as well as with India, Morocco, Jamaica and a number of European territories.
As a Production Executive / Executive Producer on several high profile UK co-productions, Isabel backed films including Pawel Pawlikowski’s Cold War which premiered at Cannes 2018 in Official Selection, winning Best Director; Haifaa Al Mansour’s Mary Shelley; Yorgos Lanthimos’ Oscar nominated The Lobster; Claire Denis' High Life; and Victor Kossakovsky’s Aquarela.
David Smith, Director
David Smith was appointed as Director of Screen at Screen Scotland following a career working within film and television, making significant contributions in the festivals/exhibition sector and in unscripted television production.
David Smith started his working life as a projectionist at Eden Court in Inverness before heading to Edinburgh to do a law degree and work at the EIFF. While working at the Edinburgh film festival in 1996 he devised and programmed Mirrorball, which featured the early work of Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry and Jonathan Glazer. David qualified as a solicitor with Edinburgh law firm Tods Murray W.S., training with renowned Scottish media lawyer Richard Findlay, before joining documentary producer Wark Clements & Co. in 2003. He formed Glasgow based production company Matchlight in 2009 and ran the documentary focused indie for a decade. Matchlight made over 150 hours of television for the BBC, C4, ITV, Channel 5 and MG Alba, with its productions securing multiple BAFTA Scotland, Royal Television Society, RTS Scotland, Grierson, Celtic Media Festival, MIND Media and Broadcast Digital nominations, and the occasional win. A former PACT Council member and BAFTA Scotland Committee member, David worked with Glasgow City Council on its successful bid to secure the C4 Hub for the city. He joined Screen Scotland as Director of Screen in 2019.