Her career began in newspapers but with a keen interest in the visual arts she moved into TV research and light entertainment and from there films, working as a runner and an assistant on two features and a production manager on a student film, making her first short whilst studying in New York.

 

Returning to the UK, Candida’s first commercial was nominated for a D&AD Newcomer Award.

 

She went on to direct a handful of low budget commercials, other short form and branded content at several of the UK Channels - MTV, The Discovery Channel, TCM and her mainstay at 4Creative, Channel 4's innovative and bold in-house creative agency for Channel 4, E4, More 4 and Film 4. From there she made her second short film Fly that screened at 4 film festivals, secured her funding for her third short, Mercy along with a place on the first Berlinale Talent Campus at the Berlin Film Festival.

 

With a love of working with people Candida has a quality that values each person on set and what they bring. 

 

“Working harmoniously together on set is the foundation needed to ensure the quality of the final product.”

 

Her ability to understand how to convey psychological states through the shots chosen is a defining characteristic of her work. This and a great sensitivity for the detail in the look, soundscape and movement of a piece takes her work to a whole different level. But in fact each aspect is equally important – from the food on set that will support the crew (or not), finding the perfect location for a scene, the quality of the set design and costumes, the detail in the casting, to that moment when the camera and actors' movements match up precisely:

 

“The flow and the symmetry that happens when you are making a film is something that I find infinitely beautiful. There is something so magic about everything falling into place.”

 

Following a break from the industry to raise a family and live overseas, Candida now brings a new depth of understanding to human nature and relationships that informs her approach to directing and filmmaking. Living for 6 years in the USA and retraining in the industry back in London - with awards in multi-camera training on ITV's Coronation Street and the BBC's New Director's Scheme for EastEnders, last year she directed over 3 hours of TV and is currently filming episodes of Casualty in Wales.  

She is an advocate for the advancement of true (not token) gender equality in the film and television industry. With a great interest in complementary healing and the health and wellbeing of communities, she sees the potential of media as a platform that can offer far-reaching connection in the most meaningful sense.