Joe Oppenheimer (Executive Producer, BBC Films) - Joe made the imprudent decision to leave the post of editor-manager of an internet start-up company in 1995 in order to pursue a career in film and television, thereby neatly missing the dotcom boom. He spent three years as a freelance writer and director before making the move into development and production.
Joe joined BBC Films’ development team in 1998. Covering the full range of the department’s output in the last ten years, he has worked with established auteurs and filmmakers as well as with up-and-coming talent new to the cinema. His work has been across a wide range of genres, from contemporary drama to period biopic, taking in comedy, horror and documentary. For THE FIRST GRADER, Joe relied on his extensive experience with African-based production shoots, including previous films SHOOTING DOGS, RED DUST and THE MEERKATS; he continues to executive produce the internationally successful television series, THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY starring Jill Scott.
Selected credits: THE AWAKENING (in production); THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS, NATIVITY!, THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY; TORMENTED; THE EDGE OF LOVE; FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TIME TRAVEL; DEATH DEFYING ACTS; CONFETTI; SHOOTING DOGS; MILLIONS; RED DUST; MY SUMMER OF LOVE; THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PETER SELLERS; CODE 46; ANITA & ME; TRAUMA; KISS OF LIFE; THIS LITTLE LIFE; CONSPIRACY; LAST RESORT.