Sue Hayes
British film and television executive (1951–2021)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sue Hayes (29 April 1951 – 23 April 2021) was a British film and television executive who, as London Film Commissioner, was instrumental in championing London as an international filming destination.[1] She also directed Edinburgh International Film & Television Festival and won an International Emmy for her documentary "For The Sake of the Children" in 1991.
Sue Hayes | |
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| Born | 29 April 1951 London, England |
| Died | 23 April 2021 (aged 69) |
| Occupations | Film producer and London Film Commissioner |
| Known for | Supporting film in London |
Early life
Sue Hayes was born 29 April 1951 in London, eldest child of James Hayes (who worked in the Vauxhall Car Plant in Luton) and Alice Hayes (née Manuel).[2]
She attended Apsley Grammar School, Hemel Hempstead, and studied economics and sociology at City University.[2]
Career
Hayes' early career was as a journalist for the Daily Mirror, Der Spiegel and the Sunday Times,[2] before working as a researcher for Granada TV and then as a producer at companies including Channel 4, ITV, Granada TV and The History Channel.[3]
From 1979 to 1983 she was director of the Edinburgh International Television Festival.
In 1989 she launched an independent production company, VPL, which made TV documentaries,[4] including For the Sake of the Children (1991), which won an International Emmy.[2]
In 2000, Hayes was appointed the commissioner of the London Film Commission[5] (now Film London),[3] and was its head until 2010.[2] She was involved in the establishment of the London Filming Partnership and in both these roles was a key figure in London becoming a go-to location for international productions.