Philippa Kowarsky steps down from role as BBC Storyville commissioning editor

Philippa Kowarsky has stepped down as commissioning editor of long-running BBC documentary strand Storyville after just under a year in the role.

Philippa Kowarsky

Kowarsky, who joined the UK pubcaster in August last year after her predecessor Mandy Chang joined Fremantle, is leaving to pursue ventures outside of the BBC.

Director of BBC Film, Eva Yates, will be acting as the interim commissioning contact for the strand until a replacement for Kowarsky is found.

At Storyville, Kowarsky’s focus was on identifying and coproducing original documentary feature films from around the world and bringing unique stories and perspectives to diverse audiences across the BBC’s platforms.

In May, Storyville unveiled a slate of summer specials and three new commissions, including a film about grime music, to be shown over the summer.

Kowarsky is the founder of international sales and advisory firm Cinephil, which she set up in 1997 and, as MD, oversaw the distribution of documentaries worldwide and also acted as coproducer and executive producer on titles including The Gatekeepers, Night Will Fall and Flee prior to joining the BBC.