Jemma Penny (née Saunders)

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2021)
• Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2019)
• MA History, Film and Television (University of Birmingham, 2011)
• BA Medieval and Modern History (University of Birmingham, 2010)

Following an undergraduate degree in History I took my first steps into filmmaking, producing a documentary about Robin Hood and tourism in Nottingham as my final MA dissertation. I then developed a portfolio career; working in a library, a theatre and at a small Birmingham-based production company in a researcher/coordinator role, in addition to pursuing various freelance writing projects.

I returned to the University of Birmingham to manage the Placement and Training module for the MA in Film and Television: Research and Production (an evolved iteration of my own postgraduate degree) and have also undertaken part-time roles in Careers Network. In 2026 my role was realigned to join the College of Arts & Law Partnerships Team, working closely with Culture Forward. I love to champion the creative and cultural scene in the West Midlands and continue to pursue my own writing, documentary and video essay projects.

MA Film and Television: Research and Production

• Placement and Training
• Documentary Filmmaking
• BAFTA Albert: Applied Skills for a Sustainable Media Industry

I have also designed and delivered ad hoc workshops on CVs for the media industries and the production landscape in Birmingham to undergraduate students across programmes in Film, Creative Writing and Creative Industries.

Alongside my professional services role, I am working towards completion of an Audiovisual PhD that explores screen portrayals of Birmingham, using videographic criticism as a central methodology. Some of my film work has screened internationally, both at conferences and festivals, and I have published both practice research and pedagogical reflections.

I am an editor at Fragments, a journal of videographic form and method, and co-organised the inaugural Creative Practice Colloquium (with Nina Jones and Ella Wright), as well as the second iteration.

Full details of screenings, conference papers and publications are available on my doctoral researcher profile: 

• Jemma's vimeo