Libby Penman
Filmmaker, speaker and tv presenter
Libby is a talented filmmaker (BBC Scotland Emerging Director 2023), public speaker, as well as a magnetic new on-screen presenter (NatGeo/ Wildscreen ‘on screen talent’ pitch winner 2022).
Film work
Libby is a confident storyteller who regularly directs, shoots and edits for broadcast TV. Her 30-minute doc Shooting Animals featured on national news on World Environmental Day 2022 and was hosted on STV player. The film features an array of scientists, conservationists and activists including fellow Scottish wildlife filmmaker Gordon Buchanan. It won ‘best doc’ at the Scottish short film festival and screened at Wilderland (the UKs No1 touring wildlife film festival). Libby presented clips from the project at a live COP26 event.
Libby self-shot and directed a documentary about mental health and body image with Scottish Love Island Star Anton Danyluk on Body Shame. She continues to be an in-demand shooting Producer/Director and is also a commercial GVC CAA Drone Operator.
In the digital space she has amassed millions of views for her work, including a short documentary about dyslexia, which she shot with her twin sister Pip. Libby and Pip have also appeared in several online Visit Scotland adverts and on TV for BBC Scotland.
Presenting
As a TV presenter Libby has made regular appearances on Landward, Winterwatch and Springwatch. She also fronted two successful episodes of the wildlife conservation show Back from the Brink (BBC Scotland/Tern TV), and presented a 30-minute film for the John Muir Trust exploring deer management and climate change.
She has also appeared on the BBC’s The Adventure Show where she can be seen ice climbing and cave kayaking. Her natural warmth and dynamic energy helping to inspire audiences of all ages.
Speaking
An energetic and engaging speaker, Libby has addressed numerous organisations, schools, colleges, and the Open University. In 2024 Libby interviewed Steve Backshall live on stage at the Cheltenham, Science Festival.
Speaker testimonials:
“Libby is a natural onscreen talent; a strong voice, opinionated, eloquent and very funny. Watch this space, she’s going to go far…”
““Libby was a superb speaker, and her visual presentation was of a very high standard” ”
Education
Libby holds a 1st class degree in Film Production (winner of the Edinburgh Napier University medal) and a Masters (with distinction) in Wildlife Documentary Production from Salford University. Libby obtained her master’s degree on the prestigious ‘Dewars Art Scholarship’ which ‘supports Scotland’s brightest and best’.
Interests
Libby is a passionate environmentalist and an ambassador for Bafta’s ALBERT and Nature Scot, for whom she created a series of social media videos.
Background
Growing up in Fife, Scotland, she started filming at her local skatepark (subject of a BBC Sounds podcast and video), which led her to creating films and documentaries. She transferred the skills gained from shooting skateboarders and BMX’ers, to filming equally unpredictable fast-moving animals.
Image credits: Gavin Hopkin, Richard Else, Laura Pennafort, Iain Gallacher, Declan Friel, Lars Isaac.
