Renowned film producer Lord David Puttnam to be honoured by the University of Exeter
Lord Puttnam’s films have won ten Oscars, 13 Golden Globes, nine Emmys, 31 BAFTAs and the Palme D'Or
Renowned film producer, educator and environmentalist David Puttnam will be given an honorary degree by the University of Exeter.
Lord Puttnam’s films have won ten Oscars, 13 Golden Globes, nine Emmys, 31 BAFTAs and the Palme D’Or at Cannes.
His achievements will be marked as part of the university’s winter graduation ceremonies this year. More than 2,300 students from 84 different countries will graduate over four days of ceremonies this week.
Lord Puttnam said: “It’s a huge honour to receive recognition from a university that, in the course of my own lifetime, has carved out a global position for itself in the very subjects I’ve spent my life promoting.”
Lord Puttnam spent thirty years as an independent producer of award-winning films including The Mission, The Killing Fields, Chariots of Fire, Midnight Express, Bugsy Malone and Local Hero. He is Chair of Atticus Education, an online education company founded in 2012 that delivers audio-visual seminars to students around the world.
He was a member of the House of Lords for 24 years until his retirement in October 2021. He was a member of the Select Committee for the Environment and Climate Change, tasked with exploring cross-Government action on COP15 and progress on COP26. In 2019 Lord Puttnam was appointed chair to the Democracy and Digital Technologies committee to investigate the impact of technologies on democracy.
Lord Puttnam is President of the Film Distributors’ Association, Life President of the National Film and Television School, International Ambassador of WWF since 2016, and a UNICEF Ambassador.
Professor Lisa Roberts, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter, said: “One of the highlights of our year is celebrating the achievements of our new graduates. It’s a chance to wish our community well before they go on to the next chapter of their lives, where I know they will make a hugely positive contribution in the world.
“It will also be very special to honour the work of Lord Puttnam, who has had such an important influence on British filmmaking, policy, and global education.”
