My friend and colleague Sue Bruce-Smith, who has died of
cancer aged 62, was deputy director of Film4 for more than 20 years and a much loved stalwart of the
British independent film industry.
Her expertise lay in financing and distribution strategies, but quietly and modestly she helped shape every aspect of the films she worked on. Steve McQueen, Andrea Arnold, Jon Glazer and Yorgos Lanthimos – Sue was pivotal in ushering their work through to audience and acclaim. She was central to the success of Mrs Brown, Slumdog Millionaire, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Room, The Last King of
Scotland, This is
England, You Were Never Really Here, Amy, and, most recently, the Oscar-winner The Favourite.