After an English Literature and Film BA from the University of Sheffield, Alexei Slater worked on feature ‘Infinite Justice’ (dir. Jamil Dehlavi) and some NFTS shorts including Yann Demange`s ‘Incomplete’ before joining former Beatle George Harrison`s HandMade Films in 2006. He worked on features including ‘Cracks’ (Eva Green), ‘Fifty Dead Men Walking’ (Ben Kingsley) and ‘Planet 51’ (Gary Oldman, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson). In 2011 Alexei founded Turn The Slate Productions with Jessica Turner and wrote / produced the company`s first short directed by the award winning Calum Macdiarmid [aka ‘Cal McMau’]. ‘82‘ starred Lock Stock`s Nick Moran as a mischievous postman and won 15 awards, screening in 50+ festivals including Raindance, London Short Film Fest, Florida and Dresden – for which the British Council supported Alexei’s attendance. Alexei’s second short ‘Scarlet Says’ featuring Alexandra Gilbreath (Monarch of the Glen) and Emma Amos (Vera Drake) premiered at the BAFTA qualifying London Short Film Fest in Jan 2015 and was selected for 19 further festivals. Alexei produced ‘The Driving Seat’ by Phil Lowe starring Olivier award winning actress Janie Dee which screened at 40 festivals including BAFTA qualifiers London Short Film Fest, Aesthetica and Cleveland Intl. Film Fest. (OSCAR qualifier). The film won several awards including the prestigious Audience ‘Hitchcock’ at Dinard British Film Fest and Best Comedy at Isle of Man Film Fest, presented by leading critic Mark Kermode.
Alexei wrote/directed short date comedy ‘Ewww’ featuring Nick Denning-Read and Harrie Hayes from comedy group ‘Zazu’ which screened at BAFTA qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Fest in York and won Best Comedy at Crystal Palace Intl. Film Fest. Alexei then wrote and co-produced short drama, ‘Candice’ featuring Olivia Poulet (The Thick Of It) and Nicholas Pinnock (Marcella) who was also EP. It debuted at BAFTA HQ for TriForce Film Fest 2017 and had 19 festival selections. Alexei also wrote/directed/co-produced short comedy drama ‘Call Me Alvy’ featuring Tracy Ann Oberman (Toast of London) and Kevin Eldon (Big Train) about a Woody Allen obsessed Bar Mitzvah boy. It was invited to premiere at the 21st UK Jewish Film Festival and was selected for 18 festivals including the OSCAR qualifying Rhode Island Film Fest USA. It won Best Short Film at Cerveteri Film Festival in Rome. Alexei also wrote / produced surreal short ‘Great Dane‘ featuring Tom Machell and Maddie Rice (also in ‘Zazu’) directed by James Webber. Festival selections included British Shorts, Berlin, Crossroads in Mississippi and OSCAR qualifier Athens Intl. Film and Video Fest in Ohio. Alexei later co-produced Louis Chan`s short ‘Stationary‘ which won the Performance Film & Media Insurance Short Film Competition from 250+ entries. It premiered on Million Youth Media`s Youtube Channel clocking 125k views in its first month.
Alexei worked as Head of Development at HandMade Films until 2014 before joining Laughing Gravy Media as Head of Film until 2016. Alexei regularly works on the script pitch event at the London Screenwriters Fest and has sat on several panels for Raindance. In 2017 Alexei had a stint at next generation content company Little Dot Studios acquiring short films for its new Tall Tales film channel. In 2017 Alexei was selected for the BFI NETWORK x BAFTA Crew, an enhanced version of the popular professional development programme and was re-selected to join the crew again as a screenwriter in 2018, 2019 and 2020 with a focus on moving into feature films and in 2022 became a BAFTA “Connect” member in its inaugural year until the present. He was also a member of Directors UK. In 2024, Alexei joined film and media finance outfit Ikigai International founded by rising Australian/Korean producer David Gim to help development and operations. In 2025 Ikigai came on board US thriller ‘Time of Death’ released on Apple TV and starring Hollywood stalwarts Michael Kelly, Meena Suvari, Kevin Pollack and Dennis Haysbert. Alexei is a Co-EP on the film.
Alexei has developed several original feature and television projects as writer and also completed three novel manuscripts, a novella and many short stories including ‘Dubois, Wyoming’, a Quarter Finalist in ScreenCraft`s Cinematic Short Story Competition 2022. Crime story ‘The Taxidermist’ was published in Murderous Ink Press`s 2023 paperback and eBook anthology of crime stories. More at www.alexeijslater.com Outside of filmmaking, since 2006 Alexei is lead guitarist in bluesy soul based The Indies Band (formed by film executives). Industry gigs include the Raindance Filmmaker`s Ball, Dinard Film Festival in France and Film London`s UK Film Focus.
Some interviews:
Raindance
Continuance Pictures Australia
Moviebuff
Continuance Pictures on novel adaptations & pre-existing IP hosted by Final Draft featuring Alexei Slater
