Erik Knudsen is a filmmaker and Emeritus Professor at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in the UK, where he was formerly the Faculty Director of Research for the Faculty of Culture and Creative Industries. Prior to joining UCLan, Erik was a Professor of Visual and Digital Culture at Bournemouth University’s Media School. He has also been Professor of Film Practice at the University of Salford, Manchester, UK, where he was for a period of time Head of the School of Media, Music and Performance. During his many years at the University of Salford, Erik also acted as the University of Salford’s Director of Graduate Studies. Earlier roles at the University of Salford include programme leading the MA in Fiction Film Production, the MA in Television Documentary Production and the MA in Wildlife Documentary Production. Prior to his University of Salford tenure, he was Head of Production at the Northern Film School at Leeds Beckett University. He writes extensively about creative film practice, such as in his book, Finding The Personal Voice In Filmmaking (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018).  

As a multiple prize winning filmmaker, his recent films include Goodwin Island (99 minutes, fiction, 2024), True Calling (88 minutes, fiction, 2021), Cleft Lip (84 minutes, fiction, 2018), The Raven On The Jetty (88 minutes, fiction, 2015).

Erik Knudsen is also creatively engaged with photography, exemplified by projects such as his photographic essay, Cuba in Waiting and Doubt, a photographic and poetic book, combined with a film. He is currently engaged in a commission for the Chester Photo Festival 2025, for whom he is creating two narrative short films, Medal of Honour and Letting Go, which are conceptually connected to two photographic works, also to be exhibited at the festival.