Dan Lawson

Dan joined Escape Studios in November 2023. Dan was previously Chief Operating Officer at London Film School, where achievements included overseeing a sustained period of growth whilst preserving the School's unique pedagogy; progressing the School's longstanding ambitions to improve and enhance its estates and facilities; leading the development of new strategic planning; overseeing the creation of new Finance, HR and Facilities functions; and navigating the School through the unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Dan led LFS’ successful bid to be named a World-leading Specialist Provider by the Office for Students in 2022.

Previously Dan ran a multimillion pound film and TV investment fund supporting both production and development, garnering BAFTAs, Golden Globes and many more awards. As Executive Producer, a diverse slate of projects included Line of Duty, Dancing on the Edge, One Mile Away, Hustle and Nativity! 2. Dan helped to develop a raft of new British filmmaking talent including commissioning more than 50 short films with the UK Film Council/BFI and working with the best up and coming writing, directing and producing talent.

Dan has also delivered major creative industries projects including Film Nation: Shorts, the official, UK-wide young people’s filmmaking competition of the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games with more than 10,000 young people taking part. At ScreenSkills (formerly Creative Skillset), Dan ensured professionals and businesses in film, TV, animation, VFX and games had access to the best training in the UK.

Dan is a member of BAFTA and the Royal Television Society, and a Fellow of the RSA. He chairs the board of trustees of Flatpack Projects, creators of the Flatpack Film Festival, and recently joined the board of trustees at the Pace Centre, a charity working with babies, children and young people with neurodisabilities, motor disorders and cerebral palsy.