Games, Film and Animation staff

Zuby Ahmed

Programme & Creative Director Video Game Design & Production

Zuby is a seasoned game developer and manager, with a career spanning over 20 years, 15 years of which have been focused within the Games Industry. Starting as a freelance writer for Edge , Zuby went onto work for Digital Image Design , Warthog Games , and EA Games . In 2006 Zuby founded SmashMouth Games (SMG), with a...

Dr Michael Bickerton

Course Leader

Dr Michael Bickerton is Course Leader on the BSc (Hons) Digital Film Production course. Michael has been producing and teaching film for over twenty-five years. He has international production experience and has taught on prestigious courses (such as the UK Film Council’s 'Introduction to Screenwriting'). He organises the...

Andy Conway

Course Director for BA (Hons) Film and Screenwriting

Andy Conway is a novelist and screenwriter based in Birmingham, who graduated from the School of English in 1994 with a 1st in English Language and Literature. He teaches undergraduate courses in Screenwriting, Drama and Adaptation in the School, and also teaches Screenwriting at The National Academy of Writing, Worcester...

Lianne Forbes

Senior Lecturer and Course Leader in BSc Visual Effects

Lianne is a Senior Lecturer with 14 years of high-end VFX film industry experience. Her focus is on forging strong links between the University and industry. She plans to develop student awareness of industry practices and produce more opportunities for them to engage with industry professionals. Lianne has worked on a long...

Sion Lenton

Course Director

Sion Lenton is the Course Director for BA (Hons) Video Game Design for the Games Film and Animation School at Birmingham City University. In addition he also teaches Game Design & Production at Undergraduate and Postgraduate level. Prior to joining BCU, Sion taught Game Design at the National Film and Television School and...

Shaun Magher

Course Director BA (Hons) Digital Animation, BA (Hons) Video Game Digital Art and MA Feature Film Development

Shaun has spent 30 years working as a Director, Creative Director and Animation Director within the UK and International Film and Television industries. A graduate from St Martins school of Art (1985) and the National Film and Television school (1989). Shaun’s work spans Feature films, TV series, commercials, station branding...

Frank Mannion

Senior Lecturer Film Distribution and Marketing / Movie Producer, Swipe Films

Frank Mannion runs the award-winning production, sales and distribution company, Swipe Films. The company has built up a valuable library of over 25 films, winning over 100 awards at major festivals around the world, including the Cannes and Sundance Film Festivals. Frank Mannion's movies include: 'Get Lucky' starring...

Alan McQueen

Course Director for BA (Hons) Filmmaking

Alan McQueen has spent the last 30 years working with the most important and influential UK film companies. He started his career in the film and home entertainment industry in 1983 with MSD Holdings. He then joined Palace Pictures, headed by Nik Powell and Steve Woolley. Palace Pictures were the most inventive, influential and...

Professor Xavier Mendik

Institutional Lead for the BCU Film Futures/BFI Partnership | Director of BCU Film Futures | Professor of Cult Cinema Studies

Xavier Mendik is a Professor of Cult Cinema Studies at Birmingham City University, where he also runs the annual Cine-Excess International Film Festival ( www.cine-excess.co.uk ). He is the author, editor and co-editor of nine volumes on cult cinema traditions, including Bodies of Desire and Bodies in Distress:...

Joe Miles

Course Leader BA (Hons) Photography

Joe has extensive experience as a freelance photographer, specialising in commercial and editorial photography for national and international clients. He has worked with models, politicians, sportspeople and celebrities for clients including the BBC, British Telecom, The Condé Nast Publications, The Daily Telegraph, Fulham FC...