Mamoun Hassan was a Saudi-born British filmmaker and educator, renowned for his influential roles in British cinema during the 1970s and 1980s.
Born on December 12, 1937, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Hassan began his career in film as an editing assistant to Kevin Brownlow. His first distributed short film, 'The Meeting', premiered in 1965 and earned a prestigious award at the Oberhausen Film Festival.
Hassan's impressive career trajectory included serving as the first head of production at the British Film Institute (BFI) from 1971. During his tenure, he implemented a policy of supporting low-budget feature films that pushed boundaries, and he played a crucial role in the production of several notable films, including Bill Douglas's The Bill Douglas Trilogy (1972-78) and Winstanley (1975).
As a champion of diversity, Hassan was the first to support Black British filmmakers, including Horace Ove, whose film Pressure was a groundbreaking portrayal of the experiences of Black Britons.
After leaving the BFI, Hassan taught at the National Film and Television School at Beaconsfield. In 1979, he wrote a policy paper on the future of the National Film Finance Corporation (NFFC),which led to his appointment as a board member and later, Managing Director.
During his tenure at the NFFC, Hassan backed a range of films, including Babylon (1980),Gregory's Girl, Britannia Hospital, When the Wind Blows, and Comrades (1986). When he couldn't directly support a project, he would use his influence to ensure it was made, as seen in the cases of Merchant Ivory's Heat and Dust and Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence.
Despite the "brave funding choices" and renewed creativity under Hassan's leadership, the NFFC was abolished in 1985. Hassan continued to work as a film producer, screenwriter, consultant, lecturer, and teacher, leaving a lasting impact on the British film industry.
Mamoun Hassan passed away on July 29, 2022, at the age of 84, leaving behind a legacy of innovative filmmaking and dedication to promoting diversity and creativity in the film industry.
