People
James Spring
James is CEO and founding Director of Fred Films. He has over 20 years experience in the Entertainment Industry. He established Fred Films in December 2013. For Fred Films he produces feature films such as Fisherman's Friends (2019), Patrick (2018), Crooked House (2017)and Finding Your Feet (2018). James is also a Director of Blue Penguin Television and Executive Produces television programmes such as the returning series, Dark Matter.
Formerly Chief Executive of Ealing Studios, he oversaw film and television production finance and distribution as well as the studio facilities. During his time at Ealing, he also executive produced a long list of films, including Nina, Burke and Hare, From Time to Time, I Want Candy, Easy Virtue, Dorian Gray and the hugely successful St Trinian’s franchise.
James joined Fragile Films as Managing Director in August 2002 and became Managing Director, Film and Television for Ealing Studios when the companies merged in 2003. Previously James was Director of Business Affairs at Avalon where he was a director of all group companies and prior to that he was a solicitor within the Entertainment Group, of city solicitors, Theodore Goddard.
James contributes to Governmental and Independent Working Groups and consultations within the Film and Television industry ranging from the origination of the UK Film Tax Credit and Inward Investment through to Education. He speaks on panels in the UK and internationally and is a contributing producer to the National Film and Television School programme. He is a BAFTA and Royal Television Society member
Shereen Ali
Shereen Ali is Production Executive at Fred Films and Blue Penguin Television. She is an Irish/Iraqi producer who won her first award in 2009 at Northern Ireland’s Foyle Film Festival for her student short. A graduate from London’s Goldsmiths University in 2012, Shereen started her career assisting Bafta award- winning producer Sophie Venner on the short film ‘Henry Cowell’, written and directed by Duncan Wellaway. As well as writing, directing and producing a number of films, Shereen has worked in international post-production houses Clear Cut Pictures and Prime Focus in London. In 2013 Shereen moved to Doha, Qatar to join The Film House, a commercial and corporate film production company. During her time there Shereen produced various projects for Qatar Airways, Al Jazeera, Vodafone, Pulse UK, The British Council and the BBC amongst others. Films produced by Shereen were awarded at the 6th Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards and the MarCom Awards in 2015. Shereen has just graduated with an MA in Producing at The National Film and Television School.
Georgina Spring
Georgina is Fred Films Chief Operating Officer.
She is also a Founding Director of Blue Penguin Television, sister company to Fred Films, where she is responsible for its Non-Scripted Division as well as its marketing, administration and finance.
Prior to this, she was a Director of Synergy Sports and Entertainment Marketing Agency (formerly Karen Earl Sponsorship) where she created and led international integrated sponsorship marketing campaigns for blue chip clients such as Aviva, British Airways, Cable & Wireless, Coca-Cola and Easynet.
Before joining Karen Earl in 1997, she worked for the international public relations consultancy, Hill and Knowlton creating and implementing PR campaigns for a broad range of consumer brands.