Malorie Blackman OBE Receives Honorary NFTS Fellowship

The National Film and Television School (NFTS) Board of Governors has bestowed an Honorary Fellowship on Malorie Blackman OBE, a best-selling and critically acclaimed writer and graduate of the School primarily known for writing literature and television drama for children and young adults.                                                                                               

NFTS Director Nik Powell will present the Fellowship, which is awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the industry, at the School’s annual graduation ceremony at ODEON Leicester Square on Wednesday February 22nd, 2017.

Malorie received a BAFTA Children’s Award for Pig Heart Boy, the diary of 13-year-old Cameron, who needs a heart transplant, and has written more than sixty children’s books. In addition, she writes television scripts including episodes of popular series such as Byker Grove and adaptations for television for her books Pig Heart Boy and Whizziwig. Her multi award-winning Noughts and Crosses series uses the setting of a fictional dystopia to explore racism and it has been recently announced that the series is to be adapted for the BBC.

She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to Children's Literature and was UK Children’s Laureate 2013-2015 following the likes of Julia Donaldson, Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson and Quentin Blake.

Malorie Blackman says: “I’m absolutely delighted to receive this Honorary Fellowship from the NFTS as I have such fond memories of my time spent studying there. The School is a great institution that supports and develops the best creative talent and provides a fantastic network of peers that you can call upon at any point in your career. It’s incredibly important to nurture a wide range of voices that reflect all aspects of society, particularly in screenwriting and I am wholeheartedly supportive of NFTS’ endeavours in this area. I wish all this year’s graduating students much success in their future careers.”                                                                              

Nik Powell, NFTS Director says: “It’s an absolute pleasure to award Malorie an Honorary NFTS Fellowship. She is in great company with the likes of David Lean CBE, Ken Loach, Jonathan Ross, Barbara Broccoli and Sir Michael Caine already named as Fellows. It’s important to us to recognise key figures who have made outstanding contributions to the industry and Malorie with her excellent track record in inspiring young people with her storytelling is no exception.”