Luke Oliveira-Davies—Filmmaker, Entrepreneur, Speaker

Biography



Luke Oliveira-Davies (He/Him) is an interdisciplinary Creative Producer and the Founder of Polari, an award-winning production company that champions the boundlessness of queer and intersectional lives through film, television, and more.

His short films have premiered and collected awards from BAFTA and BIFA-Qualifying festivals around the world, and his latest short ‘Run(a)way’ received funding from the BFI Short Film Fund.

Luke's debut documentary, Stranger in My Family, which he initially developed and produced, won the BBC Three Northern Docs Pitch at Sheffield Doc Fest (2022). It has been longlisted in the ‘Single Documentary’ category at the BAFTA Television Awards (2024), and received a ‘Best Documentary Programme’ nomination at the Broadcast Awards (2024).

The film is out now on BBC iPlayer as a Nine Lives Media production, in association with Polari.

Luke's work extends beyond Polari, including working as a Assistant Producer on Savage Waters, a multi-award-winning documentary by Emmy-winning director Mikey Corker, which released in UK and Ireland cinemas in 2023/24.

Luke is a BAFTA Connect member and is currently taking part in the Momentum programme from We Are Parable x Sony Pictures Television & Channel 4, as well as the Thrive Freelance Development Programme from Creative Access x Lee & Thompson. Luke is also alumni of the BFI Creative Producers Lab (2019), and was nominated for an RTS Futures Award (2020) for his 48-hr short film Tomorrow

Additionally, he was a finalist for Young Person in Business at the North West LGBTQ+ Business Awards (2022), and was longlisted for a Northern Gamechangers Award (2023).

Luke has received funding from BAFTA, Creative UK, Screenskills, and the Film & TV Charity to support his growth as an entrepreneur and filmmaker.

Luke is currently in development on his next short film as a Writer/Director (Anklet), as well as Polari’s first feature film projects.

Luke is a co-founder of the Queer Filmmakers Network CIC and ORIGINS: The Short Film Night.
The Stranger’s Subject, 2024

Filmography

 

Stranger in My Family (2023) 

Documentary (Single)
Out on BBC iPlayer now ︎︎︎

Longlisted - ‘Single Documentary
BAFTA Television Awards 2024

Nominated - ‘Best Documentary Programme
Broadcast Awards 2024


︎︎︎︎ The Guardian
︎︎︎︎ Heat Magazine
︎︎︎︎ TV Times



Savage Waters (2022) ︎︎︎

Assistant Producer - Documentary (Feature)


“An ode to those who dare to dream.” - Backseat Mafia

︎︎︎︎ Close-Up Film



The Stranger’s Subject (2024)

Producer - Short Film
Currently in post-production

What Would Julie Do?* (2022)

Producer - BIFA-qualifying Short Film

Best Production Design at Women X
2 x Best Comedy Short Awards
Honourable Mention at the Comedy Short Film Awards



On Rest & Movement* (2023)

Producer - BAFTA & BIFA-qualifying Short Film
Commissioned by The Hallé



The Derealisation Dinner Party* (2023)

Producer - Short Film
Funded by BFI Academy

New Renaissance Film Festival
Nominated - Emerging Talent & Best UK (Dark) Comedy Short



Run(a)way (2024)

Producer - Short Film

Funded by the BFI Network x National Lottery Short Film Fund

*=request link to watch



Education & Professional Development

 

Post Production Supervision Course

NFTS (2024)
In partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix & Amazon Prime

Self Shooting Course

Landmark Film School (2023)

Guide to Immersive XR, NFTs and 5G Course

Creative UK (2022)

Producing Certificate

London Film Academy (2021)

Ideate XR Course

Creative UK (2021)

‘Momentum’ Programme

We Are Parable x Channel 4 x Sony Pictures Television (2023/24)

‘Thrive’ Freelance Development Programme

Creative Access x Lee & Thompson (2023/24)

Producers Collective UK Member (2023-)


BFI Creative Producers Lab (2019)


M.A. Media Production

University of Salford (2017)

B.A. (Hons) Film Studies

University of Salford (2014)


Awards & Achievements


BAFTA Connect Member (2023-26)

BAFTA Prince William Bursary Recipient (2023)

Nothern Gamechanger Award (Longlist)

Elevate (2023)

Young Person in Business (Finalist)

North West LGBTQ+ Business Awards (2022)

COVID-19 Recovery Fund Recipient

Film & TV Charity (2020/21)

RTS Futures Award (Nominee)

Royal Television Society (2020)





Speaking Engagements


Freelancer Mentor (Industry Event)

Factory International · 2023

Branding, Impact & Interview Strategy (Workshop)

Warner Bros. Discovery x MediaTrust · 2023

Industry Day for Young Filmmakers

BFI Academy x HOME MCR · 2023

Documentary Filmmaking (Panel)

ORIGINS · 2023

Making Ends Meet as a Filmmaker (Panel)

Film Hub North · 2021

Navigating a Career in Film/TV (Workshop)

The Oldham College · 2019

LGBTQ+ Representation in Film (Roundtable)

Pride in Trafford · 2018