Now giving consultations and masterclasses in LA, in China, and online, Peter Markham was previously Head of Directing at the American Film Institute Conservatory from 2010 to 2018. Before that he was Senior Lecturer in Directing (2003-2010) having begun teaching at the Conservatory as adjunct faculty in 2001—a total of 17 years’ experience at AFI. He has mentored some 450 new directors, a substantial number of whom have achieved outstanding success within the industry, at major festivals across the world, and the Academy. He has also inspired dozens of new filmmakers in AFI’s prestigious Directing Workshop for Women. 

Prior to his teaching career Markham directed Second Unit for Martin Scorsese on GANGS OF NEW YORK (Nominated for 9 Academy Awards in 2003, including Best Picture), and for Anthony Minghella on THE ENGLISH PATIENT (Winner, 9 Academy Awards in 1997, including Best Picture). As a director in his own right in the UK, he directed TV drama for the BBC and Granada while his film THE CORMORANT, starring Ralph Fiennes, was nominated for a BAFTA Wales Award. Markham’s book WHAT'S THE STORY? - THE DIRECTOR MEETS THEIR SCREENPLAY is published by Focal Press/Routledge. His second book on filmmaking, THE ART OF THE FILMMAKER: THE PRACTICAL AESTHETICS OF THE SCREEN is published by Oxford University Press.