RTS North West is delighted to invite you to an exclusive preview of the new BBC Three documentary Stranger In My Family on Saturday 9th September 2023, at Everyman Cinema, Manchester.

 

Stranger in My Family follows Luke as he grapples with discovering his dad is not his biological father and that he is in fact mixed race. What unfolds is a seemingly impossible search for a bartender his mum met on a girls' holiday in the 90's, through whom he believes he will discover his true identity. Luke won the commission for this documentary at the 2022 Northern Docs Pitch at Sheffield DocFest and the programme has been produced by Nine Lives Media in association with Luke’s own production company, Polari. 

 

“Making this documentary has been the catalyst for so many profound changes in my life that I’m still struggling to put it into words.  I can safely say that what has transpired during this journey has left me feeling truly at peace with who I am and where I come from, and it has been a wonderful bonus to have become closer to my parents than ever before.”  Luke

 

The screening of Stranger In My Family will be followed by a Q&A with Luke and those behind the making of the Documentary Fran Baker, Sunny Kang, Nic Guttridge and Tamar Manhassarian.

 

FRAN BAKER:  Fran is a commissioner for BBC Documentaries at the BBC and is based in Manchester.  Before her current role, she was a multi-award winning Executive Producer and self-shooting filmmaker who spent more than two decades making documentaries, from intimate observational singles to international presenter led journeys, drama docs and investigative current affairs.  A champion of new on and off-screen talent, Fran has looked after a number of New Directors’ and Sheffield DocFest winning documentaries for the BBC.

 

SUNNY KANG:  Sunny is an experienced Shooter Producer/Director, who has filmed around the world on a wide range of factual programmes including series such as Ambulance and Saving Lives at Sea, current affairs programmes for Dispatches and Panorama, as well as single observational documentaries tackling sensitive and challenging subjects. Sunny has won a number of awards which includes two Royal Television Society NW Awards and has been nominated for a BAFTA.

 

NIC GUTTRIDGE:  Nic is a documentary story consultant and executive producer, working with filmmakers and production companies to maximise the impact of their work.  Recent credits include independent feature documentary ‘The Cancer Conflict’ (Grierson Awards Shortlisted), ‘My Life’ for CBBC (RTS South Awards Nominated) and feature documentary ‘The Missing Millionairess’ (just landed on ITVX).  Nic has nurtured ‘Stranger in My Family’ since its early days of development.

 

TAMAR MANKASSARIAN:  Tamar is a self-shooter whose career has spanned corporate media production, independent short films for festivals and television.  After winning the 2022 Northern Docs Pitch at Sheffield DocFest for 'Stranger in My Family' with Luke Davies, Tamar is now shooting TV factual programs and observational documentaries for the likes of BBC Three and ITV. She has filmed internationally as both a Shooting AP and DV Director, with programs exploring the themes of identity, culture and the intimate complexities of family relationships. 

 

RTS NW is offering free admission to RTS members - Advance booking required

Tickets can be purchased for £12 for Non RTS members.