Kira Phillips
agent: Camilla Chiverton - camilla@sternwild.com
Kira Phillips is an award-winning and highly sought-after director known for crafting complex, provocative, and impactful documentaries. Renowned for her fearless approach and meticulous storytelling, Kira's work consistently resonates with audiences and critics alike.
Her 2022 series, Jeremy Kyle: Death on Daytime, garnered nominations for the BAFTA, Grierson, and RTS awards, earning widespread critical acclaim. Praised as an “explosive bombshell of an exposé,” the series combined rigorous journalism with compelling human storytelling, becoming the highest-rated documentary on Channel 4 that year. Its innovative use of dramatized whistleblower testimony alongside penetrating personal accounts set a new standard for investigative documentaries.
Previously, Kira directed the feature-length documentary Teachers Training to Kill, released amidst the contentious debate over arming teachers in the United States. The Times hailed it as “eye-popping and searingly intelligent.” Another notable work, My Baby’s Life: Who Decides?, gained unprecedented access to doctors and families wrestling with impossible end-of-life decisions for terminally ill children, prompting one critic to write, “some programmes claim to be important, but this one really is”. Beyond these, she has helmed a wild range of series and single films over nearly three decades.
Kira’s unique strengths lie in gaining unparalleled access to difficult areas and institutions and her ability to get to the emotional heart of her subjects while navigating the ethical and moral grey areas of her subjects. With laser-focused, penetrating questioning, she unflinchingly tackles significant and timely topics, bringing to light stories that challenge and engage. One leading industry figure describes her as an ‘exocet missile’ who ‘knows how to deliver an emotional gut-punch’.
As an executive producer Kira has overseen impactful projects such as the Alison Lapper film for BBC2, a feature documentary on Lucy, the blind pianist, and a project addressing the XL Bully ban from a first-time director. Her comprehensive expertise spans all aspects of production—from legal considerations and budgeting to complex compliance issues and working with extremely vulnerable contributors. She leads and inspires her teams with confidence and warmth.
Beyond her directorial and EP work, Kira serves as a consultant and mentor, nurturing directors at all stages of their careers, from emerging talents to seasoned professionals. She is recognized for her incisive interview skills and was brought in to support the director of the acclaimed feature documentary Linford.
Kira started her career as a Business and Technology journalist. She holds an MA in English Literature from Cambridge University, a Foundation Diploma in Art & Design from Central St Martin’s and serves as a Magistrate and School Governor.