We can’t quite believe it, but it’s with tremendous pleasure that we can now reveal the closing speaker for Watersprite 2012. David Yates is one of Britain’s most celebrated film and television directors. While he became a household name for overseeing the final four installments of the Harry Potter film series – the most commercially successful film franchise of all time – Yates’s career has been as varied as it has been acclaimed. He began with award-winning short films on the international festival circuit, so will be a great source of ideas and advice for upcoming filmmakers cutting their teeth in shorts. He then moved to television drama, including the acclaimed politcal thriller State of Play (2003), so people with an interest in the small screen should find much of interest here too.

Since delivering the final film in the Harry Potter series, Yates has not rested on his laurels. He is currently making a war film, St Nazaire, to be released in 2012, and in August it was announced that he’s going to work on the adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, The Stand.

His ascent to the summit of the film industry is the stuff of dreams for aspiring filmmakers everywhere, and his insights and experience are bound to intrigue and inspire. More details, including time, location and format, will follow, but for now – mark 26 February 2012 in your diaries!