A FILM executive who has worked on a series of award-winning films is to lead Scotland's new screen funding body.

Isabel Davis will lead the Screen Unit at Creative Scotland, coming to Scotland from her position as head of international strategy at the British Film Institute (BFI).

Ms Davis, who attended the University of Edinburgh, will begin her new job in September.

As a production executive, she has credits on films including Pawel Pawlikowski’s Cold War which premiered at Cannes 2018 in Official Selection, winning Best Director.

She also worked on Haifaa Al Mansour’s Mary Shelley which premiered at Toronto International Film Festival 2017 and is also playing in this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF), Yorgos Lanthimos’s Oscar nominated The Lobster which premiered in Official Competition at Cannes Film Festival 2015, and the forthcoming films from Claire Denis and Victor Kossakovsky.

She also backed the development of films from Scottish talent including David Mackenzie and Rona Munro.

There has been heated debate over the new Screen Unit, which is part of Creative Scotland but will have its own leader in Ms Davis, and a separate identity, board of advisors as well as funding.

Read more: New Scottish screen body 'should be seperate'

MSPs on the Culture Committee of the Scottish Parliament released a report which called for the Screen Unit be a separate body, like Scottish Screen.

Creative Scotland said that she is "well-known in the UK and international film industry.... Isabel joins Creative Scotland with a strong reputation and established relationships with international talent, producers, financiers and funders."

She said: "The new Screen Unit represents a step change in opportunity for Scotland’s screen industries.

"With a doubling of resources to £20m each year and a shared strategic vision, it’s time for Scotland’s talented film and TV sectors to fulfil their potential, and to create a highly attractive environment for incoming creative companies and productions.

“It’s an enormous privilege to be joining Creative Scotland and to be given the responsibility of leading the Screen Unit and promoting and supporting Scotland’s phenomenal range of screen talent, facilities, crews, locations and the broader industry."

She said her focus is now on "helping Scotland’s screen industries achieve the level of success they so richly deserve."

Iain Munro, deputy Chief Executive of Creative Scotland and chair of the recruitment panel said: "The Screen Industries in Scotland are currently experiencing significant growth in terms of production spend, with huge ambition and potential for so much more.

"At a time when budgets for supporting Screen through Creative Scotland are doubling to help deliver that, I am delighted to announce Isabel’s appointment as the Executive Director who will lead this bright future for Screen in Scotland.

"Isabel brings with her a huge amount of knowledge and practical experience about Film and TV production, financing and distribution and, importantly, significant experience of international development and relationship building to help grow our industries.

"She is extremely well-known and connected globally and we are thrilled that she will now be bringing all of that to the benefit of Scotland’s industries at this time of huge potential and positivity."

Fiona Hyslop, the culture secretary, said: "There are enormous opportunities for Screen and the broader creative economy in Scotland. Isabel will bring a range of valuable practical experience with her, from her previous posts both within film and TV, to this important new leadership role within Creative Scotland."