Painter, designer, lecturer and art critic. His seminal book "The Film Till Now" (1930), despite being dated, is still considered a valuable reference tool by students. Rotha was best known for directing and producing documentaries on social issues, as well as wartime propaganda films. From 1953 to 1955, he served as BBC's director of documentaries and as president of the New London Film Society. He later founded the Federation of Documentary Film Units and was appointed chairman of the British Film Academy.