The Nik Powell Scholarship

The Nik Powell Scholarship

The Nik Powell Scholarship continues his legacy by supporting emerging producers in the early stages of their career to attend the NFTS.

‘Nik leaves an unrivalled legacy. No one has done more than him to set the bar high. We will continue to strive for the future success of the School in his honour.’ - Dr. Jon Wardle, NFTS Director

In recognition of the enormous contribution Nik made to the development of new talent and his passionate support of new filmmakers and voices, the Nik Powell Scholarship will support emerging producers in the early stages of their career to attend the NFTS, a School he helped shape into one of the best film schools in the world and which he loved dearly.

In addition to the financial support the Scholarship will provide, each recipient will also be matched with an industry leader who will provide ongoing support and mentoring and share an insight into Nik’s own particular approach to producing. It is our intention to award this Scholarship annually, the amount awarded to the recipient will be determined by the monies raised, so please do give generously.  

The NFTS will liaise with Nik’s partner Sarah Cellan-Jones, his partner of 20 years, to select the recipients of the Scholarship. The primary criteria in making awards from the Scholarship fund is financial need.

Donate to the fund via JustGiving
About Nik 

Nik Powell with Richard Branson

In the early 1970s Nik Powell set up Virgin Records with Richard Branson and in the space of ten years the pair turned a small mail-order record operation into a multi-million pound conglomerate.

In 1982 Powell went into partnership with Stephen Woolley, having sold out from Virgin in the previous year. Together they formed Palace Pictures (where UK releases included The Evil Dead, Diva and Blood Simple) and then Palace Productions, soon establishing each as highly regarded entities within the film distribution and production industry. Powell acted as Executive Producer on all of Palace’s productions including Neil Jordan’s Company of Wolves, Academy Award nominated Mona Lisa, Michael Caton-Jones’ Scandal and Neil Jordan’s multi-Academy Award nominated The Crying Game.

Nik and Stephen Woolley’s new company Scala produced Iain Softley’s Backbeat, Terence Davies’ The Neon Bible, Shane Meadows’ debut Twenty Four: Seven, Mark Herman’s Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-winning Little Voice, Fred Schepisis’ Last Orders starring Michael Caine, Bob Hoskins, Tom Courtenay, Helen Mirren, David Hemmings and Ray Winstone, and Charles Dance’s Ladies In Lavender, starring Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith and Daniel Bruehl. Nik also executive produced box office smash Calendar Girls starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters as well as Martin Koolhoven’s Brimstone, with Guy Pearce, Dakota Fanning and Kit Harington which premiered in September 2016 at the Venice Film Festival before screening in Toronto and London.

Nik Powell (right) pictured with Stephen Woolley

In 2017 Nik stepped down from his role as Director of the UK’s renowned National Film & Television School (regularly listed amongst the world’s leading film schools). During his time at the NFTS, films produced by students garnered numerous BAFTAs and Academy Award nominations. The school was awarded the BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema at the 2018 ceremony.

Dr Jon Wardle with Nik Powell, accepting the NFTS' BAFTA in 2018

A former Chair of the European Film Academy, the BAFTA Film Committee and Chevalier dans l’ordre des arts et Lettres, Nik was named an OBE in the 2018 Honours List.

Nik who had been receiving treatment for cancer, died on Thursday 7th November 2019 in Oxfordshire surrounded by his family.