Francesca Brill is a screenwriter and novelist. She trained at RADA as an actor and worked extensively in film, television and theatre before studying screenwriting at the NFTS.
Francesca’s current projects across film and television include;
A NET FOR SMALL FISHES
MUBI
Adaptation of Lucy Jago’s novel, an immersive reimagining of a scandalous Jacobean murder trial traces a dangerous friendship between two women.
THE GODMOTHER
Route 24
Co-written with Mark Mills. Original international crime series in which an unwitting godmother takes custody of her orphaned goddaughter only to become embroiled in the crimes surrounding her parents’ deaths.
I THOUGHT I KNEW YOU
51 Entertainment and Fifth Season
Adaptation of Penny Hancock’s novel which looks at the fall out between two friends when one’s daughter, accuses the other’s son of sexual assault. A taut psychological thriller with an excellent twist.
Francesca series THE DROWNING, which she co-created, is now available on Netflix after originally being broadcast on Channel 5. Based on Francesca’s original feature screenplay, the series follows a mother convinced she has found her missing son after eight long years. Her increasingly dangerous actions trying to prove his identity threaten to bring the new life she has fought so hard to rebuild, crashing down around her.
The 4-part series stars Jill Halfpenny and Rupert Penry-Jones achieved consolidated viewing figures of over 6 million and was Channel 5’s best performing original drama series to date.
The Drowning…is one of those snappy thrillers that will keep you watching right to the end.
The Telegraph
The Drowning pays much attention to the endurance and the depths of a bereaved parent’s sorrow and how guilt manifests, while refusing to go in for big dramatic gestures at the expense of this hard-won authenticity.
The Guardian
A well-paced, twist-laden script from series creators…and a strong performance from Halfpenny, who is always convincing even when Jodie’s single-minded pursuit of her son stretches our credulity, make The Drowning a gripping watch from the start.
The Evening Standard
As a writer/director Francesca’s work includes short film Expecting which was Broadcast by Channel 4 in the ‘Shooting Gallery’ and shortlisted by the BFI New Directors Scheme, Leo And The Virgin, which was short-listed by the American Academy Arts and Sciences and was a participant in the BFI program ‘Filmonomics’ designed to promote female and BAME directors.
Francesca’s latest short film Chaconne, written by Thom Petty was selected for Underwire Film Festival, Kerry Film Festival, Jukebox International Film Festival, Kinofilm Festival in Manchester, International Sound and Film Festival, and WINNER at the Amsterdam International Film Festival for Best Screenplay.
Previous screenwriting credits include:
Titanic: Blood and Steel
The Marvellous Mabel Stark
The Riders
Inspector Lynley Mysteries
The Bait
Bare Hands,
Stray
A Great And Terrible Beauty
The Red Room