Janine Thomas takes reins at C4's First Cut

Former Channel 4 factual exec Janine Thomas has returned to the broadcaster to oversee the broadcaster’s First Cuts strand.

Thomas has spent a year at Sky as assistant editor of documentaries, a role in which she launched the Doc Shorts Initiative for emerging talent with disabilities and from ethnic minority backgrounds.

She performs a similar role at C4, which established the First Cuts strand 16 years ago to offer emerging film-makers their first authored doc credits and break new on-screen factual talent.

She takes over from Rita Daniels, who has run the strand since 2016 and is now working across an upcoming blue-chip factual series.

Thomas was previously at C4 for six years, during which time she worked with the First Cut team to showcase up-and-coming film-makers at Sheffield Doc/Fest's pitch events.

She was initially as a genre assistant for daytime, music and education and latterly as documentaries assistant editor, working on the likes of Damilola: The Boy Next Door, Secret Life of the Zoo and 24 Hours in A&E. 

She also championed the broadcaster’s Black History Month output, including the Take Your Knee Off My Neck season of films in response to the death of George Floyd, and produced its Cutting Edge directors' scheme.