Person Biography:
Hope completed her Master of Fine Arts degree in filmmaking at Columbia University, where she created three short films that gained international recognition by being showcased at numerous film festivals worldwide. During her time in New York, she served as an assistant to renowned filmmaker Todd Solondz on his project PALINDROMES.
Hope's thesis film, THE DAWN CHORUS, earned her widespread acclaim, being selected for prominent festivals such as Sundance, Edinburgh, and London, among others. Her outstanding work was recognized by Screen International, who named her a Star of Tomorrow, and Filmmaker Magazine, which included her in their list of '25 New Faces of Independent Film'.
Upon returning to the UK, Hope continued to produce acclaimed short films for various organizations, including Channel 4, Film London, the UK Film Council, NOWNESS, and the National Theatre of Scotland.
Her debut feature film, THE LEVELLING, was produced as part of the iFeatures scheme, a collaborative effort between BBC Films, the British Film Institute, and Creative England. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2016 and went on to screen at numerous festivals globally.
At the London Film Festival, Hope received the inaugural IWC Filmmaker Bursary Award in association with the British Film Institute. In October 2017, she was named a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit, and in November of the same year, she won a Scottish BAFTA for Best Screenwriter for THE LEVELLING.
In 2020, Hope released a new short film, STRONG IS BETTER THAN ANGRY, as part of The Uncertain Kingdom project. She is currently developing several new feature films and television projects.
During the pandemic, Hope created a hybrid film-theatre production of Jekyll & Hyde, which was performed and recorded live at Leith Theatre and streamed to cinemas across the UK in February 2022. The production is being edited into a feature film.
In addition to her filmmaking endeavors, Hope is a co-founder of Raising Films, a campaign aimed at making the film industry more sustainable for parents and carers. She is also part of the National Partnership for Culture in Scotland.
Hope resides in Edinburgh with her husband and two sons.
