Film Editor
BFE
Following a long successful and prolific editing career, I became the Executive Chair of British Film Editors association in 2019. I'm committed to editors receiving the acknowledgement we deserve in the film and TV industry. BFE highlights the largely unsung role of the editor and brings connectedness, support and recognition to its members.
During this period, we have brought to fruition long held goals of our board and membership. We changed the name it held since beginning in 1966 from The Guild of British Film and TV Editors (GBFTE) to British Film Editors (BFE).
We have established worldwide virtual conversations with esteemed editors and industry professionals, and grown from 150 members to 800 in three years. During this period we have secured sponsorship and founded the only UK awards dedicated solely to celebrating the craft of editing, the BFE Cut Above Awards. Literally last but definitely not least, you will now see our BFE post nominal appearing on the film credits of our full members, a breakthrough accomplishment within the industry.
Editing
I have edited news and current affairs investigative journalism films since 2001; many have won awards and nominations. These include landmark current affairs series' BBC's Panorama and Investigations, plus Dispatches and Unreported World. It's been excellent to be part of the raising of the bar in current affairs' film. Prior to this I edited animation, drama, music, documentary and pioneering youth TV.
My edits include The Mind Reader, a one hour documentary that won the Medical Journalist's Association Broadcast Documentary Award and had two RTS nominations and the RTS winning The Hutten Inquiry, another one hour film for BBC Panorama.
In editing, I am most proud of those films which have investigated injustice against women.
Editing Consulting
Having edited for over thirty years, plus voted for sixteen years in the editing category of BAFTA nominated films, I thoroughly enjoy providing feedback back on film cuts during the editing process, helping to speed up the edit by offering a fresh view of a film.
I'm particularly proud of my contribution to the award-winning documentary feature Lost in La Mancha.
Andy Bell
Producer BBC
‘‘Renée is a film editor who takes current affairs to a different level. It isn’t just her inimitable skill in creating, crafting and pacing a film way beyond what can so often expected in this genre, there is the passion in which she does it, contributing a level of creative and editorial input that is special.
When you work with Renée you’ll discover something rare and wonderful’’.
John Ware
Reporter BBC
‘‘Renée Edwards as probably the most accomplished film editor I have worked with in over 30 years of making television current affairs for both the BBC and ITV.
She has a rare gift for transforming dry and dusty subjects into life. She gives what I would call "emotion" to the subject when it could so easily fall flat. And she does this, not simply
through great diligence and attention to detail, but by intuitively engaging with the mood of the script, by visually giving it the ambition it aspires to, by clarifying and making it feel and sound like a film that simply has to be watched’’.
Lindsay Shapiro
Series Producer
‘‘Taking risks, breaking traditional television rules, finding new ways to present footage, these were challenges that Renée embraced and overcame with great success.
Her meticulousness also meant that her high professional standards were never compromised for the sake of 'wackiness'. I not only learnt a lot about editing working with Renée, but also really enjoyed myself. Her determination coupled with a great sense of humour, were a welcome respite from the stresses of being Series Producer
on Passengers’’.
Derek Bain
Associate Governor and
former Governor BFE
“Having served as a Governor of the newly formed BFE and for many years as Governor of the GBFTE (the forerunner of BFE) I would like to state that as the Chair of this organisation Renée Edwards has greatly helped with establishing the early foundations of BFE and is still, performing the task with great skill, tact and thoughtfulness.
Renée brings with her the rare gift of bringing unity. The ability to take disparate views and opinions and to help form a consensus without dissent or acrimony.
Renée has the ability to make wise choices and decisions calmly and consensually, a rare gift. This all achieved while successfully balancing family and work responsibilities."
Andrew Evans
Editor and Governor BFE
“Renee’s stewardship of British Film Editors has taken it from an old boy’s film club to the most influential editors’ organisation in the country. No insult to the old boys.”
St. John O'Rorke
Editor, Treasurer
and former Chair BFE
“Renée has been Chair of BFE for almost 3 years now, and under her leadership BFE has successfully organised the
BFE Cut Above Awards for outstanding editor in
12 different categories.
She has also overseen a phenomenal growth in membership at the same time."
Lindsey Dillon-Massey
Editor and Governor BFE
‘‘ I’m one of the governor’s for BFE. Renée is Chair.
Renée is a rare and unique person. She unafraid to be challenged. Listens and respects all opinions. I love the fact Renee is so real.
Juggling being an editor, Chair woman, mother and I’m sure many other roles.
She is a role model that shows that anything is possible. ’’