Denise Barren joined The Whickers as Assistant Director in November 2023. She specialises in supporting first-time feature documentary directors and plays an integral role in the pre-selection of applicants for The Whickers Film & TV Funding Award and The Podcast Pitch Award. She also produces the Whickers Funding Pitches at Sheffield DocFest, supporting emerging film and audio makers as they develop and present their projects to industry professionals.

Before joining The Whickers, Denise enjoyed a freelance career as an event producer, specialising in documentary screenings and discussion events around the world. She worked with a diverse range of corporate, independent and charitable organisations, bringing people together through the power of documentary storytelling.

Throughout her career, Denise has been driven by a passion for shining a light on underrepresented stories and championing documentary filmmakers to help them bring their ideas to life.