Creative talent
Justin Molotnikov
Co-Creative Director
Justin Molotnikov is a writer and director from Scotland who started out making award-winning short films 12 years ago, that toured film festivals worldwide. They include Pan-fried (Scottish BAFTA nomination and winner, Kingussie Film Festival winner) and Poached (Belfort Film Festival winner).
Over the last 8 years his work in TV, children's favourite My Parents are Aliens (Director), prime-time drama Taggart (Director), offbeat comedy drama High Times (Director) and international co-productions for family viewing Shoebox Zoo (Co Creator and Series Director), has consistently been recognised by the press and industry with multiple awards and nominations (BAFTA, Scottish BAFTA’s, RTS, Celtic Film and TV Festival, Directors Guild of GB, and Banff International TV festival).
CRYING WITH LAUGHTER is his debut feature film as a writer and director. It had its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2009 where Justin was selected as a Trailblazer and where film was nominated for the prestigious Michael Powell award. Crying with Laughter has played in competition at Raindance, Dinard and Rotterdam Film Festivals. It recently received 3 BAFTA Scotland nominations in 2009, including Best Writer for Justin, and won Best Feature Film category.
Justin has sat on numerous panels as an industry guest and judge (BAFTA, BBC, Scottish Screen, Screen Academy Scotland), has worked as a tutor for students in film and TV and is skilled in improvisation techniques. He is represented by The Agency (Ian Benson) in London.
Claire Mundell
Co-Creative Director
A multi award-winning producer with over 16 years experience, Claire has a broad base of production skills and knowledge, gained from a career which has included roles as diverse as researcher, production manager, producer, series producer and executive producer.
Claire’s debut feature film, Crying with Laughter - a darkly comedic revenge thriller, written and directed by business partner Justin Molotnikov - won the BAFTA Scotland Best Film Award 2009, alongside nominations for Best Performance and Best Writing.
As Co-Creative Director of Synchronicity, Claire creates, develops and writes film and TV drama properties for the UK and International market.
Prior to setting up Synchronicity, she enjoyed a 10-year career at the BBC, working across a range of genre including live studio entertainment, factual entertainment, documentary and drama. She rose to become Head of Children’s at BBC Scotland and ultimately was responsible for the multi-award winning family series, Shoebox Zoo, an £8.4m international UK-Canada co-production which Claire co-created as well as taking the dual roles of Showrunner and Executive Producer. A film adaptation of the series is one of Synchronicity’s feature projects.
Awards include BAFTA Scotland Award for Outstanding Achievement, a Royal Television Society Award, a Broadcast Television Award and a New York Festival Award.
Claire provides consultancy services for various organisations including Scottish Screen, Northwest Vision and Media, Screen Academy Scotland and Birds Eye View. She is a former board member of the Glasgow Film Theatre and Deputy Chair of BAFTA Scotland. She enjoys doing yoga and drinking wine.