Insight sessions with heads of Working Title Films, the international head of Searchlight Pictures and the chairman of the BFI, plus discussions on the story behind the success of Last swimemerging filmmakers and documentarians, adaptations and remakes, the art of sound and the magic of marketing are just some of the topics covered at this year’s BFI London Film Festival.
On Monday, organizers presented debates on a wide range of topics.
In the Spotlight sessions, BFI CEO Ben Roberts will discuss UK film production, the transformation of the industry, talent relationships and nurturing a new generation of filmmakers with Working Title co-chairs Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, while BFI Chairman Jay Hunt, who is also Creative Director, Europe, Worldwide Video at Apple, will discuss his career and the industry. Plus, Katie Goodson-Thomas, Head of International Production and Development for Searchlight’s UK operations (The Banshees of Inisherin, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Poor things, All of us strangers), will share his insights.
Below is a complete list of events and their descriptions.
THE ART OF SOUND. JOHNNIE BURN IN CONVERSATION
Thursday 10 October at 11.45am, Picturehouse Central
“The LFF is thrilled to welcome Academy Award and BAFTA Award-winning sound designer Johnnie Burn for a unique opportunity to delve into the art of sound. with director and producer Charlotte Matheson. With a film portfolio ranging from Jonathan Glazer The area of interest AND Under the skin, by Jordan Peele No and many of Yorgos Lanthimos's projects including The lobster AND Poor things, Johnnie will guide the audience through key scenes from his celebrated work and explore how sound helps create immersive landscapes and enrich the cinematic experience. He will also highlight the work of sound professionals and their relationships with directors and department heads.”
ANATOMY OF A DEBUT: LAST SWIM
Thursday 10 October at 3.30pm, Picturehouse Central
“After the success at the Berlinale, Last swim team will offer a deep dive into the making of the film, its creative genesis and its commercial journey, from assembling the creative team and casting, to raising financing, securing sales representation and finally arriving at that magical moment when the film finally meets its audience. Writer and director Sasha Nathwani will be joined by co-writer and executive producer Helen Simmons (co-producer Treasure), director of photography Olan Collardy (Rye Lane) and producers Campbell Beaton (Hot property, Bonus track and many commercial and music videos) and Nisha Mullea (video – The Robbery No One Is Talking About, Save the Children: Still the Second Most Shocking of the Day) in discussion with Mariayah Kaderbhai, head of BAFTA programmes.”
NEW VOICES IN DOCUMENTARY CINEMA
Friday 11th October at 11.45am, Picturehouse Central
“Documentary film has long been an important part of the LFF and this year three filmmakers with backgrounds in documentary filmmaking, photography and fine art will share their creative processes and production journeys in bringing their distinctive non-fiction films to the screen. Programmed by the LFF in partnership with Sheffield DocFest, filmmakers Cécile Embleton for Mother True and Manon Ouimet and Jacob Perlmutter for Two strangers trying not to kill each other will be joined in the discussion by Raul Niño Zambrano, Creative Director of Sheffield DocFest.”
FADE IN. EMERGING WRITERS IN CONVERSATION supported by WGGB – The Writers' Union
Friday 11th October at 3.30pm, Picturehouse Central
“Bringing new talent to the industry spotlight, six passionate emerging writers from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will discuss their screenwriting journeys, inspirations and writing process in a panel discussion with producer and consultant Anna Higgs. Having developed their skills in writers' rooms, talent workshops and screenwriting competitions, they have built up credits in short films, children's plays, theatre and TV drama and are now moving into feature films. With references ranging from Amedeo TO Ghost in the Shellspeakers will share their personal themes and obsessions, and how they are honing their style. Join us in celebrating the power of storytelling. They are Alys Metcalf, Andrew Wong, Angela Franklyn, Carley Magee, Celia Morgan and Shannon Welby.”
A MAP TO THE STARS: CASE STUDIES ON INDEPENDENT FILM MARKETING AND PROMOTION
Monday 14th October at 3.30pm, Picturehouse Central
“How a black and white drama set in Rome in 1946, among the rubble of war, directed by a novice actress behind the camera, was born – Paola Cortellesi There is still a tomorrow – reach the top of the Italian box office for 2023, surpassing giants like Barbie and Oppenheimer? And how did an independent debut in the Irish language do it – Colm Bairéad The quiet girl – become a nominee for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards? Marketing and promotion specialists Mathias Noschis (founder of Alphapanda, Berlin) and Laura Mirabella (marketing director of Vision Distribution, Rome) will discuss how the films have made European cinema history with film and industry programmer Nadia M Oliva.”
CONVERSATION WITH KATIE GOODSON-THOMAS, SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES
Tuesday 15 October at 11.45am, Picturehouse Central
“For over a decade, Katie Goodson-Thomas has overseen a prestigious slate of British and international feature films at Searchlight Pictures, including The Banshees of Inisherin, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Poor Things AND All of us strangers. As Head of Production and International Development for Searchlight’s UK operations, she supported both established and new filmmakers, as well as cultivating multiple relationships across the UK film industry. Prior to her role at Searchlight, Goodson-Thomas was Head of Film at Chris Coen’s Unanimous Pictures, having previously worked at companies including Origin Pictures and Working Title Films and with some of the UK’s top producing and directing talent, including Graham Broadbent, Lynne Ramsay, James Marsh and Danny Boyle.” The conversation will be moderated by journalist and film festival consultant Wendy Mitchell.
SPOTLIGHT CONVERSATION WITH WORKING TITLE'S TIM BEVAN AND ERIC FELLNER
Tuesday 15 October at 3.30pm, Picturehouse Central
“Working Title’s contribution to the UK screen industry locally and internationally is unparalleled,” the LFF said. “Co-chaired by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, Working Title has built a reputation as a world-leading British production company, creating beloved and critically acclaimed film and television content for 40 years. With a focus on talent development, they recently announced their Global Writers Programme with Universal, the studio’s first internationally-led talent initiative, and also co-founded the London Screen Academy, a state-run sixth form academy for young people from all backgrounds.”
GOOD STORIES: ORIGINALS, ADAPTATIONS AND REMAKES
Wednesday 16 October at 11.45am, Picturehouse Central
The Ultimate Quest for Success: Finding and Acquiring Good Stories? On screens big and small, story plays a critical role in ensuring the success of the final project. Our panel of experts in film finance, remake rights, film production and writing talent will share their insights into scouting stories and managing originals, adaptations and remakes, while assessing risk on new or existing IP; the role played by data and instinctive decision making; and assessing potential across different platforms and markets. Kevin Loader (Producer and Co-Founder, Free Range Film), Tolu Stedford (executive producer and CEO, Story Compound), Meg Thomson (executive vice president, global content, Globalgate Entertainment) and Alex Walton (co-head, WME Independent) will be joined by debate moderator Rowan Woods, creative director of the Edinburgh TV Festival.
FEATURED CONVERSATION WITH JAY HUNT
Wednesday 16 October at 3.30pm, Picturehouse Central
“With an impressive career spanning over 30 years, Jay Hunt has championed UK talent throughout his career. The only person to have been chief creative officer at BBC1, Channel 4 and Channel 5, he has commissioned contemporary classics such as Slow horses, Luther, Sherlock, Black Mirror, Derry Girls ANDGlasses boxIn this exclusive conversation with BAFTA Award-winning TV presenter, radio personality and journalist Claudia Winkleman, Jay will discuss his career and key moments, including working in the public and private sectors and how they can work together.”