Jim Allen was one of the top rank television playwrights for many years, writing amongst other playsTHE LUMPandTHE BIG FLAMEin the late sixties/early seventies;RANK AND FILE; DAYS OF HOPE;CHOICE OF EVILSandTHE SPONGERS, directed by Roland Joffe.

UNITED KINGDOM,produced by Kenith Trodd and directed by Roland Joffe, was transmitted by the BBC in early December 1981 and was awarded the Best Single Play Award by the Broadcasting Press Guild.  The film was also nominated for the BAFTA Award in the Best Single Play category. WILLIE'S LAST STANDwas written for the BBC and transmitted in the Spring of 1982, in the Play for Today slot.

THE GATHERING SEEDwas transmitted by the BBC during September and October 1983 as a six-part serial.

Awards won byTHE SPONGERS:

Best Single Play: Broadcasting Press Guild TV Awards 1978

Nominated for the Golden Prague TV Drama Award - First prize for Best Script, 1978.

Best Play prize from the International Journalist Jury, 1978. 

Jim Allen wrote the stage playPERDITION.

His feature film directed by Ken Loach, entitledHIDDEN AGENDAwas screened at Cannes where it was awarded the Grand Jury Prize. 

His featre film,RAINING STONES (1993),also directed by Ken Loach won the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes & Best Film at the Evening Standard Film Awards.

He wrote the screenplay forLAND AND FREEDOM (1995), again directed by Ken Loach.LAND AND FREEDOMwon The Film of The Year award from The European Film Academy and the Critics Prize at Cannes