Comedy is a serious business for Jonathan Wakeham. He is the co-founder and programmer of the LOCO London Comedy Film Festival, a BFI partner festival established in 2012. LOCO discovers, develops and screens the world’s most original comedy filmmakers. The annual festival also runs training courses and development programmes for British-based comedy filmmakers. Recent UK premieres at LOCO include Klown (Mikkel Nørgaard, 2010), Set The Thames on Fire (Ben Charles Edwards, 2016), Farewell to the Moon (Dick Tuinder, 2014), Gaby Baby Doll (Sophie Letourneur, 2014), All Three of Us (Kheiron, 2015) and The Darkest Universe (Will Sharpe and Tom Kingsley, 2016) – click on the film names in order to accede to the film reviews (where available)

Wakeham believes in championing the craft of comedy film through training, instead of just promoting and screening movies. Participants in the training have the chance to develop their own digital ideas and to take advantage of professional advice and guidance. The training presents a regular networking brunch, for scriptwriters and filmmakers to kickstart their comedy career.

He is a trustee of Camden People’s Theatre (CPT) and Arts Emergency, both of which exist to support and to nurture original creative talent. CPT is at the heart of British physical, visual and experimental theatre, while Arts Emergency mentors young people who want to study and work in the arts. Arts Emergency also runs the Alternative Old Boys’ Network, which connects thousands of arts professionals with young people from less privileged backgrounds so that they can develop their talents and careers. He is also the co-writer of Filmland! by CRANK Theatre.

Jonathan Wakeham can be reached at [email protected] or via LOCO’s website here.