Charles Koblah Thompson, the Ghanaian-born son of one of the UK’s first African barristers is a graduate of Film & TV Production Techniques, Arts and Media.
His over 3 decades experience in the international film & TV industry as a Creative, Impact and Film & TV Producer with a commitment to black writers and directors has produced many multiple award-winning narrative films in Europe, Africa and the USA, with most gaining long-term distribution. He has worked in producing on important Black British dramas & TV magazine shows, including the UK’s first black-themed scripted reality series.
Two of Charles’ earliest films The Collector and Distinction are held in the BFI National Archive, the first of which went on to become the longest running short film in UK cinema history. In the late 90’s he helped found Off the Grove, London’s first ever live screenplay reading event, co-founded and served as Festival Dir. for the bfm International Film Fest, the UK’s first and once one of Europe’s premier annual black film showcases and in 2003 he created the Screen Nation Film & TV Awards described by The Independent as ‘the Black BAFTA’s’ and then in 2013 the Screen Nation Digital Media Awards and before that co-founding The New Black Film Collective.
Hugely respected across the UK and West African film industries, his commitment to Black British filmmaking has seen him develop training and screening programs across the UK and 3 of his feature films can be found on Netflix. He created the UK’s first Black Film & TV Hall of Fame and future plans include heritage events recognising the contribution Black British talent have made to the UK industries since the early 1900’s. In 2011 Charles received an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Charles is former Chair of the Alliance of Black Media Professionals, a member of The Roundhouse Creative Centre Advisory Panel, a Millennium Awards Fellow, @Diversity Europe Idea judge, long term Judge of the Ghana UK Based Achievement Awards (GUBA) and has been honoured twice by former London Mayor, Ken Livingston for his contribution to London life.