About Owen Tooth, filmmaker

Award-winning director (and wheelchair user) in film & TV.

BAFTA Breakthrough | Broadcast Hot-Shot | BBC Elevate | Directors UK

What's new?
I recently made history as the first disabled director of EastEnders in its 40 year run. My debut block culminated in the VE Day standalone special which trended on X and garnered headlines calling it ‘Perfect’, ‘Beautiful’, noting it ‘Left fans gasping for breath’ and ‘In floods of tears’.

In recognition of breaking this glass ceiling, I can now proudly call myself a BAFTA Breakthrough, and a Broadcast Hot Shot.

As a wheelchair user, I’ve faced plenty of challenges in the industry, yet my films have won festivals and earned awards including Best Film, Audience Choice, Best Director, Best Comedy, and Best Documentary, screened in competition at Oscar, BAFTA and BIFA qualifiers, I have a funded short in preproduction - and my debut feature is available on DVD, Blu-Ray and VOD worldwide.

I also direct documentaries, it’s all storytelling to me. My Netflix documentary about a marching band which became a cult just premiered at Raindance, while my ‘Story of Change’ documentary (below) won ‘Best BTS’ at the BRAND film awards and was screened around the globe.

Owen's EastEnders VE Day Standalone Special

I've directed 2nd Unit and more for BAFTA & EMMY-winning shows like Big Boys and Horrible Histories.

I shadowed on personal hero Jack Thorne's BBC1 major four-part drama Best Interests starring Sharon Horgan and Michael Sheen, as well as on eight other HETV and CDS shows across the country. Shadowing has given me the confidence to direct various formats with their unique challenges, from multicamera soap to single camera HETV.

When I'm not directing, I edit feature films, including a recent Simon Pegg comedy and a Luke Evans crime drama.

I was selected for the BFI Regional Director's Lab, Directors UK Inspire Scheme, and BAFTA Connect, plus the comprehensive Silent Witness director-training scheme. I’m currently one of three directors in the UK selected for the ‘ScreenSkills Regional HETV Director Champion Program’ while I grow from features, shorts and soaps into HETV: I don't stay still!

As a wheelchair user and ally, I lead collaborative change in the industry. I am determined to leave my mark as a director who not only made it, but held the door open for others to follow.

Poster for comedy short 'PMS' featuring some of its many laurels

What motivates you?
I’m a born storyteller, known for bringing a fresh perspective to the screen. I love the whole process: collaborating with writers to bring an idea into existence, pushing the story further in the edit, the rush of that first screening...

But it’s on set, in the dance between cast and crew, where I feel most alive.

I have a distinct style which shines through my work across genres. Watch my films, you’ll soon learn my voice: it's elegantly cinematic, story-driven, with confident performances and creative camera language.

I direct with joyous energy and a flair for rich, visual storytelling. I love comedy with my drama and I’ve a strong understanding of stunts & VFX. I push my team to bring more to the table than they thought they could offer, and make sure they leave the set happy and excited for the next day’s work.

I’m passionate about diversity and representation on and off screen. I'm forging a path for myself and others into the industry, but exploding limiting beliefs about disability is just part of my mission.

The hard sell
I hope my track record of awards and screenings at hundreds of festivals speaks for itself.

I'm proudest of my ability to balance filmmaking's most technical demands while nurturing a happy, creative atmosphere on set where I can help actors give themselves to their performance. I'm often told I run a calm, happy set no matter what pressure I'm under.

I want to know more
There's no faster way to get to know me than to watch this film. You'll even see superstar photographer RANKIN take the black and white portrait of me that I use at the top of this page!

I was hired by The Annex to direct a behind-the-scenes doc about the first TVC campaign with a fully-inclusive crew. On the day of the shoot, the lead interviewee couldn’t join us, and I realised that it was the time to go in front of the camera and share my story. The response has been phenomenal.

What else do you do?
I’ve run modules on the MA in Film & Screen Production and the BA Hons in Film & HETV Production at the University of Derby (where I graduated with first class honours), and guest lectured at Nottingham Trent, De Montfort Leicester, Warwick and Ruse Bruford.

At Derby uni, I am a disability role model, proud LGBTQ+ ally, and active member of the Decolonisation Board which I helped to set up.

In my (rare) spare time, I play guitar, and enjoy exploring the muddy mountains of the Peak District in my all-terrain wheelchair with my wife.

When not in the great outdoors, you’ll find me in the great indoors, gazing at a cinema screen.

Owen on the set of Jack Rooke's Big Boys S2

Poster for Owen's debut feature, Devil's Tower

I'd love to work with you, but this shoot isn't accessible, I'll call you when we have a studio project...
This is the limiting belief which has hurt my career the most; assuming something isn't possible, without asking.

You'd be surprised how easily I can get onto any set; mountainside, swamp, castles, up stairs... If the crew can get there with a dolly, so can I.

Physical access isn’t the limiting factor here: if I’m a good fit for the script, we can make it work.

So, your director's chair has wheels... will X, Y or Z offend you?
I'm asked this on every production I've been involved in since becoming a wheelchair-user, so let's get this out there right now: I’m totally relaxed talking about myself and disability in general - please don't be shy!

Training Highlights

A selection of my training and development experiences. Ask for my most recent CV, or check my IMDB for up-to-date credits.

BAFTA Breakthrough (and more!)

Breakthrough is BAFTA's "20 ‘must-watch’ creatives in the midst of their breakthrough moment". It's a year-round programme of professional development, and meetings.

Meetings have been set up for Breakthroughs with Emma Thompson, Danny Boyle, Abi Morgan, Paul Greengrass, Barry Jenkins, Lesley Manville and Brad Pitt!

Before Breakthrough, I was proud to have been selected for both BFI x BAFTA Network and BAFTA Connect.

Jack Rooke's Big Boys S2: 2nd Unit director and shadowing

With showrunner (and fellow BAFTA Breakthrough alumni) Jack Rooke and director Jim Archer, RoughCut and Channel 4's Big Boys is a tender coming of age, coming out comedy/drama with a cinematic scope and a stellar cast.
I was welcomed into RoughCut family to shadow Jim for a fortnight, Owen was soon directing second unit with footage to match the brilliant look of the show.

BFI Directors Lab

The BFI Directors Lab took 10 directors for a two-day intensive series of talks and conversations with commissioners, directors and producers from around the country, sharing aspects of the craft and industry to help us each progress in our career.

Shadowing on Jack Thorne BBC1 Drama

Three weeks shadowing director Michael Keillor on a BAFTA nominated BBC1 major four-part drama written by Jack Thorne and starring the incredible Sharon Horgan opposite a career-best Michael Sheen, exploring the production from prep to post, as well as assisting production with EPK and in the edit.

Inspire year-long mentorship with Directors UK

I was lucky enough to be selected for Inspire, a year-long mentorship programme with Max Myers. A cinephile like myself, we spoke the same language and his excitement for all things film matched my own.

We met monthly to discuss craft: blocking, casting, pitching, and more. It was Max's brilliant advice which led to me getting an agent!

Shadowing on Horrible Histories

A shameless fanboy of the series, I spent a day shadowing Cien McGillicuddy on the BAFTA, Emmy and British Comedy Award-winning Horrible Histories, before being invited back to direct additional content and then return for the spin-off hit series Horrible Science to direct 2nd Unit across series 2.

Silent Witness Director Training

14-day prestigious Director Training Scheme through producer Jayne Chard with directors Toby Frow and Roberto Bangura, to give comprehensive training in the demands of directing for the television arena.

It encompassed 4.5 days in pre-production, 4.5 days in production, 4 days in post and a consolidation day with a written report.

Hollyoaks Shadowing

Shadowing a pair of directors on Hollyoaks (Candida Scott-Knight and David Crowley) and getting to know the full production team, also spending two days with the post-production team in the edit suite.

Ralph & Katie Digital Traineeship

Produced by the incomparable Jules Hussey, this gave unprecedented insight into the inner workings of a BAFTA-winning TV production during the creation of the groundbreaking series. All paperwork was shared, from contracts and early script drafts through to exec notes on edits of each episode.

Virtual Production @XPLOR

A hands-on day exploring Virtual Production / VP as a director and producer: what are the costs (high!), how do you shoot do get the best out of it? How do you prep for a VP shoot and plan your location work to match?
This was a highly technical, hands-on and confidence-boosting day spent pressure testing the Unreal Engine environments with live cast.

Production Safety Passport

The Mark Milsome Screenskills Film & TV Safety Passport (valid to March 2027).
I have also taken ScreenSkills training courses in Addressing unconscious bias and Tackling Harassment and Bullying at Work (both valid to Oct 2026), Mentoring for Mentees; Coronavirus Basic Awareness, and First Aid at Work

BA Film & Video Production

First Class Honours (University of Derby). Practical degree shooting and editing on 16mm film as well as digital video.

I recently returned to teach a full screenwriting module for the Film & Screen Production MA students and a 35mm film production module for the Film & HETV BaHons students.

OWEN TOOTH