Francesco Caira

Born in the heart of London, I grew up with my brother in 1980s Islington, sons of Italian migrants. My father was a night worker at London's Dagenham Ford plant, my mother a dinner lady.

I studied at St Aloysius RC School in Highgate where notable students were Peter Sellers CBE (The Pink Panther, Dr. Strangelove), Sir Michael Gambon CBE (Harry Potter, The Kings Speech) and Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out, Black Panther).

I had a turbulent time growing up, often bullied and ridiculed. This culminated in my arriving at a dark and lonely place. Thankfully my passion for storytelling provided solitude. I began to scribe comics, magazines & newsletters for school and my local youth club in Clerkenwell. I left school to study at The City & Islington College.

Every summer I’d escape to my Italian roots (and routes!) - Atina, a small rural village in Italy, where often I would find sanctuary from the difficulties in London. I would often explore the mountainous terrain just with a backpack, notepad and pen - disappearing literally from twilight to night.

My passion for film started when my father could afford to buy our first VHS player. I would often head to the video library for hours as I could not decide what to watch - my father always needing to collect me before it closed. I remember my father taking me for my first cinema experience - ET at the Odeon in Holloway Road. I was blown away, and the fuse-paper had been lit.

I would walk to West End premiers hoping to meet my idols – I once smuggled my friend into the opening of Copland and managed to meet Syvlester Stallone (very strong hand shake!) and Robert De Niro.

I started to work in the City in the financial district where I worked for the FCA, PwC and WTW. It was at the FCA (then FSA) I met Arif.

I recently completed the Raindance Screenwriters Programme and am a full-fledged Raindance member.

Living in Hertfordshire, I have been happily married for 16 years to my wife Angela, and I have two children who share my passion for film.