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We are proud to announce the appointment of our latest Into Film Cymru Ambassador: Swansea-born, BAFTA-award winning writer/director, Sally El Hosaini (The Swimmers; My Brother the Devil; Babylon).
Sally joins an illustrious list of Into Film Cymru ambassadors, including actors Matthew Rhys and Rhys Ifans; Lucasfilm's Lynwen Brennan and writer/director/actor/producer, Celyn Jones.
Film has the power to inspire, challenge, and open up new worlds, and I know first-hand how important it is for young people to see themselves reflected on screen and to believe that a career in film is within their reach.
Into Film Cymru Ambassador, Sally El Hosaini
Commenting on her new role championing film education and accessibility across Wales, Sally El Hosaini said:
"Being an Into Film Cymru Ambassador is an honour and incredibly meaningful for me. Film has the power to inspire, challenge, and open up new worlds, and I know first-hand how important it is for young people to see themselves reflected on screen and to believe that a career in film is within their reach. Into Film does such vital work in nurturing the next generation of filmmakers and storytellers and I'm thrilled to support their mission."
The announcement was made at a special International Women's Day event that took place at Willows High School (Cardiff) with pupils from Pen-Y-Dre High School (Merthyr Tydfil) also in attendance. The award-winning writer/director discussed the filmmaking process, equal representation and the power of female storytelling on film with host, Elemchi Nwosu (I Am Igbo), a presenter and documentary filmmaker for BBC Wales. The event was organised in order to raise awareness of industry opportunities in Wales and encourage young women from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in film.
The event was part of Into Film Cymru's ongoing work to increase access and diversity in the screen industry, supporting more young women and disadvantaged groups to enter the creative industries sector. This comes on the back of recent research by The Sutton Trust in November 2024, which highlighted the significant role that economic background and personal networks play in shaping career opportunities in the creative industries. The study found that 31% of high-profile figures in TV, film, and music were privately educated, compared to just 7% of the UK population, reinforcing the need for initiatives that promote equal opportunities in the sector.
Sally El Hosaini is a BAFTA-nominated filmmaker, best known for her acclaimed and widely popular Netflix drama, The Swimmers. In 2025, she was recognised as one of ELLE's '40 Women In Film & TV Power List'. In 2023 she was named a GQ Hero and in 2024 she was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
She was named one of Variety's ‘Brits to Watch' and Indiewire's ‘10 Most Exciting Female Directors in the World Today.' Sally made her debut with the acclaimed feature, My Brother the Devil. The film premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, screened at over 40 international festivals and received 12 awards, 17 nominations and an honourable mention. Notable accolades include Best European Film at Berlinale, Best Newcomer at the BFI London Film Festival and Best Screenplay at the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Awards. Following this, she was chosen by Danny Boyle to direct the final three episodes of Babylon, the TV series he co-created and produced with Succession creator Jesse Armstrong for Channel 4 / Sundance TV.
The Swimmers, Sally's second feature, was a major commercial hit on Netflix. It opened the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, where she won the TiFF Emerging Talent Award, before earning a BAFTA nomination for Outstanding British Film. The film was co-written with Jack Thorne and produced by Working Title Films, with Stephen Daldry as an executive producer. It quickly became a global success, reaching an estimated 120 million viewers, hitting #1 in 47 countries, and ranking in the 'Top 10' in 86 countries - achieving the rare feat of increasing its viewership in consecutive weeks. Sally won Best Director for the film at the 2023 BAFTA Cymru Awards.
In 2023, her third feature, Unicorns, which she co-directed with James Krishna Floyd, was nominated for seven British Independent Film Awards.
To read more about Sally El Hosaini, explore our 2023 International Women's Day and National Careers Week panel event with BAFTA, featuring her and other celebrated women from across the screen industries.
