Our story
We are what we say we are - Films Not Words. We are here to make films we believe in, about issues and people we believe in, simple as that.
We've worked in documentaries long enough to know that so many ideas never make it past the pitch stage - especially for films made outside of London or with strong women at the core. But we've worked in Manchester long enough to know there are countless stories that deserve to be told. So, we set up Films Not Words to do just that.
Founded in 2023, by BAFTA winner Helen Tither - who has produced and directed her own documentary ideas for the BBC - we are here to make quality documentaries in the north, with quality northern crew who live and work here.
And, just like the city we belong in, we believe in doing things differently. We want to offer opportunities to crew living and working in the North, committing to pay BECTU union rates as standard.
As for the lack of women represented on and off-screen. Not on our watch. A strong female-led team, we are making it our mission to foster female directors and crew from all backgrounds. Committing to the We Are Doc Women 50/50 Pledge from the start.
So, that’s it. We will be making quality films, not just quantity, with top Northern crew paid properly for the awesome work they do. You know what they say… What Manchester does today, the rest of the world will do tomorrow.
Meet the team
Helen Tither
Greg Cheetham
Greg Cheetham
Founder and Director
Our founder, Helen, has been digging out stories in Manchester for over 20 years. Most recently producing and directing three of her own documentary ideas for the BBC, including Emmeline Pankhurst: The Making of a Militant (BBC1) and The Great Staycation: Dot's Farm (BBC1).
In 2012, Helen won a BAFTA for work on her o
Founder and Director
Our founder, Helen, has been digging out stories in Manchester for over 20 years. Most recently producing and directing three of her own documentary ideas for the BBC, including Emmeline Pankhurst: The Making of a Militant (BBC1) and The Great Staycation: Dot's Farm (BBC1).
In 2012, Helen won a BAFTA for work on her original idea My Life: Me, My Dad & His Kidney (CBBC). Since then, she has worked on award-winning documentaries and series, including Educating Yorkshire (C4).
But, as a former print journalist at the Manchester Evening News, what Helen loves most is finding original stories to tell. When she came across the story of The Corinthians Ladies Football Club she knew it was a film that had to be made, and Films Not Words was born.
Greg Cheetham
Greg Cheetham
Greg Cheetham
Freelance Director of Photography
Greg is just brilliant at what he does. Conjuring up gorgeous shots and bringing scenes to life, whatever the demands of the shoot.
Manchester born and bred, he is a highly skilled freelance lighting cameraman with over 20 years’ experience and can cover everything from ob docs to operating theatres, docume
Freelance Director of Photography
Greg is just brilliant at what he does. Conjuring up gorgeous shots and bringing scenes to life, whatever the demands of the shoot.
Manchester born and bred, he is a highly skilled freelance lighting cameraman with over 20 years’ experience and can cover everything from ob docs to operating theatres, documentary to drama.
With a list of credits for broadcasters, including the BBC, ITV, C4 and Sky, he has been documentary partners in crime with Helen on several previous projects, including Emmeline Pankhurst: The Making of a Militant and Invented In the North West (Tomorrow’s World for BBC1).
Always bringing ideas and innovation, he gets involved with the vision from the outset of a film. A big supporter of the Corinthians documentary from the outset, he has been a key player in getting the film off the ground.
Sarah Walters
Greg Cheetham
Sarah Walters
Freelance Producer
Journalist and Producer Sarah is one of the best in the business when it comes to tracking down hidden archive – who else could have found a forgotten record of the first woman to vote in Britain, hidden in a Cheshire salt mine?
A legend on the Manchester scene, Sarah honed her writing and investigative skills as a journ
Freelance Producer
Journalist and Producer Sarah is one of the best in the business when it comes to tracking down hidden archive – who else could have found a forgotten record of the first woman to vote in Britain, hidden in a Cheshire salt mine?
A legend on the Manchester scene, Sarah honed her writing and investigative skills as a journalist at the MEN and is still in demand for her music knowledge as former editor of City Life.
When she isn’t hosting on-stage interviews with music legends, she has been working her way up to Producer in the world of TV documentary.
Credits include major factual series such as Hunted (C4), as well as working alongside Helen on Emmeline Pankhurst: The Making of a Militant and Invented In The North West. Part of the Corinthians film team from the start, she is the brains behind the film’s amazing, uncovered archive.
Craig Leedham
Greg Cheetham
Sarah Walters
Freelance Editor
It’s no wonder Craig called his Cheshire-based edit suite Film Goodness - he’s a whizz at crafting perfectly polished films.
With over 27-years’ experience across multiple genres including drama, documentary and feature films he always knows when to make the right cut. Highlights include working on award winning shows such
Freelance Editor
It’s no wonder Craig called his Cheshire-based edit suite Film Goodness - he’s a whizz at crafting perfectly polished films.
With over 27-years’ experience across multiple genres including drama, documentary and feature films he always knows when to make the right cut. Highlights include working on award winning shows such as 'You Too Can Be An Absolute Genius' (RTS Winner and BAFTA nominated) and 'Guy Garvey’s Music Box', the nationwide cinema release of feature film 'The Pebble and the Boy', and 'Emmeline Pankhurst, The Making of a Militant'.
Recently, he has also been lecturing as an industry expert at LIPA, Liverpool, in post-production techniques.
John Whittington
John Whittington
John Whittington
Freelance animator
"John is a boy with his head in the clouds," Or so his dad used to say. Hence the name of his animation and graphics business Head In The Clouds!
As long-time collaborators with John, we are chuffed to bits to be working with him on our first documentary film and hope it's the first of many screen projects!
John has worke
Freelance animator
"John is a boy with his head in the clouds," Or so his dad used to say. Hence the name of his animation and graphics business Head In The Clouds!
As long-time collaborators with John, we are chuffed to bits to be working with him on our first documentary film and hope it's the first of many screen projects!
John has worked on several BAFTA-winning documentaries for CBBC including My Life: Me, My Dad & His Kidney and I Am Leo. He also worked on the BAFTA-nomiated animation Poppies as well as big name series such as Postman Pat SDS and The Furchester Hotel.
An expert in animation, motion graphics and VFX, he always managed to pull something marvellously surprising out of the bag. Keep an eye out for his Corinthians animations...
Gemma Roberts
John Whittington
John Whittington
Freelance animator & illustrator
Gemma is the genius behind our amazing Corinthians comic book illustrations, as seen in the trailer for our film.
A 2D illustrator and animator with a passion for all things drawn, she won an RTS award for her animation, Acorns and has since worked on critically acclaimed productions including The Snowman &
Freelance animator & illustrator
Gemma is the genius behind our amazing Corinthians comic book illustrations, as seen in the trailer for our film.
A 2D illustrator and animator with a passion for all things drawn, she won an RTS award for her animation, Acorns and has since worked on critically acclaimed productions including The Snowman & The Snowdog, Ethel & Ernest, and We're Going On A Bear Hunt.
We are absolutely thrilled to be working with Gemma, who has already worked her magic on our Corinthians documentary by bringing the players to life in comic form in all their raucous, rebellious glory.
You can check out more of her beautiful illustration and impressive CV at her AmberDust Studios website.