Born in London, Francke studied English Literature at East Anglia University. She began her career working as a programmer for the Everyman Cinema and Electric Pictures, and was involved in the re-releases of such classics as La Dolce Vita, Breathless, and The Big Heat, among others. During this time, she also helped launch the debut films of Claire Denis (Chocolat) and Jane Campion (Sweetie). She then enjoyed a prolific career as a film critic, contributing to a variety of publications, including Sight & Sound, Premiere, The Observer and The Guardian. In 1994, the British Film Institute published her book-length study on women screenwriters, Script Girls, Women Screenwriters in Hollywood. From 1997 to 2001, she worked as the artistic director of the Edinburgh Film Festival. After her tenure, she returned to film production, and set up the Ministry of Fear label for the production company Little Bird. There she co-produced Trauma (Marc Evans, 2004). Always with a keen eye for the cutting edge and with inextinguishable enthusiasm, Francke continues to be a vital force in aspects of the film industry. She currently works as consultant Executive Producer for feature films for the East Midlands funding agency EM Media, created to help foster the region's film, television, and interactive media industry.
Born in London, Francke studied English Literature at East Anglia University. She began her career working as a programmer for the Everyman Cinema and Electric Pictures, and was involved in the re-releases of such classics as La Dolce Vita, Breathless, and The Big Heat, among others. During this time, she also helped launch the debut films of Claire Denis (Chocolat) and Jane Campion (Sweetie). She then enjoyed a prolific career as a film critic, contributing to a variety of publications, including Sight & Sound, Premiere, The Observer and The Guardian. In 1994, the British Film Institute published her book-length study on women screenwriters, Script Girls, Women Screenwriters in Hollywood. From 1997 to 2001, she worked as the artistic director of the Edinburgh Film Festival. After her tenure, she returned to film production, and set up the Ministry of Fear label for the production company Little Bird. There she co-produced Trauma (Marc Evans, 2004). Always with a keen eye for the cutting edge and with inextinguishable enthusiasm, Francke continues to be a vital force in aspects of the film industry. She currently works as consultant Executive Producer for feature films for the East Midlands funding agency EM Media, created to help foster the region's film, television, and interactive media industry.
