As co-founder and Managing Director of Speakit, Marc J. Francis has spent over two decades shaping the company’s mission to tell stories that raise consciousness, deepen connection, and spark change. A distinguished storyteller, he is renowned for directing and producing internationally acclaimed documentaries distributed in cinemas, on television, and across streaming platforms.

Drawing from a lifetime of lived experience, Marc brings rare depth to his work—shaped by fluency in Chinese Mandarin, Zen Buddhist practice under Thich Nhat Hanh, and rigorous shamanic training. These paths have taken him from mountain temples to ancient forests and burial rituals, offering radically different ways of seeing the world.

His directorial portfolio includes Black Gold, which premiered at Sundance to global acclaim, and When China Met Africa, a major collaboration with the BBC, Arte, and Sundance Institute, described by The Times as “a rare, grass-roots view into one of the most important economic developments of the age.”

Walk With Me, co-directed with Max Pugh and narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, premiered at SXSW and the BFI London Film Festival before becoming a global hit on Netflix and Amazon. Its companion audio project, Walk With Me In Sound, was published by Penguin Random House and released on Audible and Spotify.

Marc’s latest documentary, Here I Am, explores love, grief, and the urgency of creative living through the intimate story of author Elizabeth Gilbert and her late partner Rayya Elias.

Alongside directing, Marc continues to executive produce and story consult through Speakit, collaborating with leading creatives, changemakers, global leaders to bring meaningful, transformative stories to life.

Link to Marc J. Francis' website

Nick Francis is the co-founder of Speakit and an award-winning director, producer, and executive producer whose films have earned international acclaim. Over his career, he has crafted character-driven stories from across the globe, illuminating some of the most urgent social issues of our time for mainstream cinema and television audiences.

Nick has forged collaborations with leading broadcasters, funders, and distributors including the BBC, Channel 4, Sundance Institute, BFI, National Geographic, ARTE, and PBS. His directorial work includes the Sundance hit Black Gold and BBC Storyville’s When China Met Africa, as well as a slate of films for The Guardian and international organisations such as UNHCR and Amnesty International.

As both producer and executive producer, Nick has overseen a range of theatrical and broadcast documentaries, including the BBC’s War Requiem with Turner Prize–winning artist Wolfgang Tillmans; the global box office hit Walk With Me, narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch; and the forthcoming feature Here I Am, featuring bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert. Nick also serves as a story consultant for purpose-driven organisations, helping amplify the voices of changemakers and visionaries through the power of film.