Syd Heather is a multifaceted Writer, Director & Producer from Kent, whose work spans narrative, documentary and the branded space. Outside of producing and directing corporate projects for Hasbro, Confused.com, Visit Maidstone, Growing Kent and Folkestone & Hythe Council, Syd also works in production for film and TV with credits on BBC, ITV, Britbox & Channel 4 projects.
An active member of Directors UK and recently selected for the brand-new Bafta Connect programme, Syd's filmmaking portfolio includes multiple award-winning projects that have screened at BAFTA, BIFA & OSCAR qualifying festivals and distributed by Alter, Omeleto, Shorts International and Peccadillo Pictures.
Notable producing projects include the LGBTQ+ docudrama HAVE WE MET BEFORE? which was one of only ten commissioned shorts by the BBC and BFI for the Born Digital programme in 2019 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Internet, and 2018 BAFTA LONGLISTED GYPSY'S KISS starring Bafta Winner Gemma Jones, one of six winning scripts for the 2017 CHALLENGE ALEXA competition by Directors UK and ARRI.
As a writer/director, Syd enjoys experimenting with comedy, horror and documentary - sometimes all at the same time. Notable directing credits include the multi-award-winning satirical rom-com TEXTUAL RELATIONSHIP which debuted at the BFI Future Film Festival and won top prizes at the prestigious Limelight Film Awards for Best Comedy & Film of the Night.
Most recently, he produced and directed the supernatural thriller ON AIR with fellow BFI Network x Bafta Crew members during the pandemic, which has since screened at FrightFest, Nevermore Film Festival, British Shorts Film Festival, Halloween Horror Film Festival and BAFTA QUALIFYING London Short Film Festival. In addition, the film has been nominated for Best Drama at Horsham Film Festival, The Si Spencer Award at the Unrestricted View Horror Film Festival and won Best Actress for Mandip Gill (Doctor Who) at TweetFest Film Festival.
Moving into the world of long-form, Syd recently co-wrote, produced and directed his debut feature documentary, MICROPUBS - THE NEW LOCAL, an observational documentary that explores the craft beer revolution and rise of the micropub movement in the UK.
Adopting a hybrid physical and digital release strategy through the pandemic and beyond, the film was one of only 10 winning films selected for the inaugural Paus Premieres Film Festival, nominated for Best Documentary at Wales International Film Festival and Romford Film Festival, and screened the BIFA-Qualifying Crystal Palace International Film Festival. The film has since been broadcast on LONDON LIVE and distributed regionally with CINEMA FOR ALL alongside a wide range of AVOD, SVOD & TVOD streaming platforms including Vimeo-on-Demand, Amazon Prime, Tubi TV, Kanopy & GuideDoc.
Syd is currently developing his next documentary about living off the grid and his first narrative feature exploring British folklore, childhood fears and the supernatural.
https://sydheather.com