It’s one of those things that makes you look at home differently. The streets you walk down every day, the Metro you take into town — someone else once did the same, and they ended up making Gladiator or Top Gun.
You can’t talk about Northeast directors without talking about the Scotts.
Ridley Scott, born in South Shields, is a film legend. He gave us Alien (still terrifying), Blade Runner (arguably the most stylish sci-fi ever made), and Gladiator (which won Best Picture at the Oscars & is one of my favourite films). His films are huge, detailed, and unforgettable. You can always tell a Ridley Scott film — the atmosphere, the scale, the way everything looks like it belongs in a gallery as much as on a cinema screen.
His younger brother Tony Scott, from North Shields, was just as big a deal but in a totally different way. Where Ridley’s films feel epic and heavy, Tony’s were pure energy. Top Gun, True Romance, Man on Fire — the man basically defined 80s and 90s action cinema. His style was fast, colourful and emotional, and people still copy it today.
Two brothers from Tyneside became two of the most important directors in Hollywood?
The fact that two brothers from Tyneside ended up becoming two of the most important directors in Hollywood? Wow. And honestly, it makes you think: if they could do it, who’s to say it can’t happen again? The Scotts aren’t the only ones who deserve attention.
Take Franc Roddam, from Norton in County Durham. He directed Quadrophenia in 1979 — the ultimate Mod film. If you’ve ever seen the parka jackets, the scooters, the fights between Mods and Rockers on the beach, that’s all down to Roddam’s film. But he didn’t stop there, he also created MasterChef. He’s responsible for both a cult British film and one of the biggest cooking shows in the world.
Then there’s Maurice Elvey, born in Stockton-on-Tees back in 1887. You might not know his name, but at one point he was the most prolific director in Britain. He made nearly 200 films between 1913 and 1957. He pretty much helped build the foundations of the British film industry. Without people like him, there wouldn’t have been space for others to come after.
More recently, there’s Chris Foggin, from Sunderland. He directed Fisherman’s Friends in 2019 — a film about a group of Cornish fishermen who sign a record deal and become famous. It’s one of those warm, feel-good British films that just makes you smile.
And then there’s Jamie Childs, from County Durham. He’s been smashing it in TV, directing episodes of His Dark Materials and The Sandman. But he’s also moved into feature films with Jackdaw — and the best part is, he brought it back home to shoot in Teesside. It’s honestly great seeing someone use the North East, not just as a birthplace, but as a proper backdrop for a story.
We don't have the big studios or the glossy red carpets - but that's kind of the point.
Here’s the thing: the North East isn’t exactly known for its film industry. We don’t have the big studios or the glossy red carpets - but that’s kind of the point. These directors came from a place that isn’t built for film and still made it anyway. It’s proof that talent doesn’t need a postcode.
I think it’s also about perspective. Growing up here gives you a certain outlook: straightforward, no nonsense, and a bit rough around the edges but in the best way. You can see that in the work; whether it’s Ridley Scott building whole futuristic worlds or Jamie Childs shooting thrillers in Hartlepool, there’s something about North East directors that feels grounded and real.
And it’s not just the big names we already know. There are new filmmakers coming through all the time. Directors like Danielle Goff, James Craggs, Elliot Manarin and Christina Bowen are making shorts, documentaries and indie projects across the region. They’re still early in their careers, but they’re telling stories that feel fresh and modern, while still rooted in local life.
Groups like North East Screen are helping to support them, which is exactly what’s needed. Because if the past has shown us anything, it’s that the region clearly has the talent — it just needs the opportunities.
The North East doesn't get enough credit for the people it's given to film.
The North East doesn’t get enough credit for the people it’s given to film. Everyone knows about Ridley and Tony Scott, but the list goes far deeper than that, and it’s still growing. From Quadrophenia to Fisherman’s Friends, from Alien to Jackdaw, the influence of directors from this region is bigger than most people realise.
And honestly, that’s exciting. Because if the North East has already produced world-class directors without a massive film industry on its doorstep, imagine what could happen if the next generation get the right support. The next Ridley Scott, the next Tony Scott, could easily be sitting in a lecture at Newcastle Uni right now, or filming a short on the streets of Sunderland.
Watch this space — the North East isn’t done with cinema yet.