معرفی
Ben Thompson is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead in the School of Film, Media and Creative Technologies at the University of Portsmouth, Faculty of Creative & Cultural Industries. He serves as Academic Lead for the Film and Television subject area, shaping curriculum, research, and professional practice. With over 20 years of experience in higher education, he has held roles from Lecturer to Principal Lecturer and academic leadership positions including Course Leader and Section Lead.
His educational background includes progression through academic ranks and current pursuit of a Professional Doctorate in Education. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), affirming his teaching excellence.
Thompson’s research is practice-based, centered on cinematography, screen practice, and documentary filmmaking. He actively creates films that explore social themes such as fatherhood, foster care, and racism in sports. His creative outputs serve as scholarly contributions, blending artistic expression with academic inquiry. He is a member of the internal Screen Practice Research Group, reinforcing his research engagement.
The recent creative works reflect a consistent focus on social impact through film, particularly in documentary and short-form storytelling. Themes of identity, care, and equity recur across projects, often combining real-life testimonies with innovative visual techniques such as hand-drawn animation.
- Bill Vinten University Award - Winner (UoP) at The Guild of Television Camera Professionals Awards 2023
- Bill Vinten University Award Runner up at The Guild of Television Camera Professionals 2019
- Guild of Television Camera Professionals - Bill Vinten University Awards 2024 (Runner Up, University of Portsmouth)
- Royal Television Society Award - Best Comedy Entertainment 2020
- Royal Television Society Award - Best Comedy Entertainment (Comedy Drama) 2023
Ben Thompson has supervised multiple student and collaborative film projects, often in partnership with organizations focused on social issues. He has served as an External Examiner at the University for the Creative Arts (2018–2021) and London South Bank University (2011–2015), contributing to academic quality assurance in film programs. While no formal grants are listed, his award-winning projects suggest external recognition and likely funding support. He is actively involved in professional networks including the Royal Television Society and Advance HE.
He is a full member of the Guild of Television Camera Professionals and the Royal Television Society, and participates in industry events such as the ScreenSkills Congress and RTS Southern Awards, maintaining strong links between academia and the creative sector.
