The ScreenUK Industry Podcast

Talent Talk: Pillion

Join us for a discussion with British writer-director Harry Lighton, who made his feature directorial debut with PILLION (Un Certain Regard) at Cannes 2025.

Speakers:

HARRY LIGHTON | Writer-director
PILLION

LEE GROOMBRIDGE | Producer
PILLION

GARETH SCALES | Editor
PILLION

NICK MORRIS | Director of Photography
PILLION

Moderator:

WENDY MITCHELL | Journalist and film festival consultant

 

Podcast presented and produced for ScreenUK by Lawrence Francis, Premier PR www.premiercomms.com 

 

Talent Talk: Immersive Stories. TRAILBLAZER and tAxI.

Meet the talent behind two enthralling immersive stories selected at Cannes Immersive. Created by Singer Studios, Trailblazer is a VR experience starring Daisy Ridley (Star Wars) in the role of pioneer Bertha Benz, who embarked on the world’s first road trip at the end of the 19th Century. Produced by Nilor Studio, tAxI is a multi-sensory installation in which the passengers of a taxi find themselves in conversation with a charismatic AI.

Speakers:

ELOISE SINGER | Director, Co-writer and Executive Producer
TRAILBLAZER | Singer Studios

LESLEY PATERSON | Executive Producer
TRAILBLAZER | BraveArt Entertainment

ORIANA NEIDECKER | Producer
tAxI

STEPHEN HENDERSON | Director
tAxI | Nilor Studio

Moderator:

SILVIA ANGRISANI | Industry Programmes Manager
BFI

Podcast hosted and produced by Lawrence Francis

The Charm of Genre: How Genre Films Travel Across the Borders

‘Genre’ has always been a safe bet with audiences, but today more than ever, genre films are crossing over into mainstream audiences. While the market is still looking for the next rom-com hit, crime and thriller keep on benefiting from a large audience and body horror is enjoying an unexpected wave of popularity. Producers and sales agents share their insights on the appeal of genre in the international markets.

Speakers:

TODD BROWN | Head of International Acquisitions
XYZ

MARIA EKERHOVD | Producer
Mer Film

KATARZYNA SINIARSKA | Head of Sales
New Europe Film Sales

OLIVER KASSMAN | Producer
Escape Plan Productions

Moderator:

VICKI BROWN | Snr Executive, Sales & Distribution
BFI

International Co-Production: Case Studies

This episode goes behind the scenes of two international coproductions: Bring Them Down (UK/Belgium/Ireland) by writer and director Chris Andrews, and Lomu (UK-New Zealand), a feature documentary currently in production, directed by Gavin Fitzgerald and Vea Mafile’o. An international panel of producers will discuss the creative and financial challenges met by the partners, from the complexities of national and international financing to the division of responsibilities between co-producers, and the challenges of cross-cultural collaborations.

Speakers:

JULIANNE FORDE | Producer
BRING THEM DOWN | Tailored Films (Ireland)

IVANA MACKINNON | Producer
BRING THEM DOWN | Wild Swim Films (UK)

RUTH TREACY | Producer
BRING THEM DOWN | Tailored Films (Ireland)

VICTORIA BARRELL | Producer
LOMU | Sylver Entertainment

EMMA SLADE | Producer
LOMU | Tahi Productions

The Rise of Indigenous Language

In recent years, indigenous and minority language films have gained visibility with audiences. A growing movement within Celtic cinema has seen films such as The Quiet Girl and Kneecap conquer critics and audiences alike. Bespoke funding schemes are supporting film production in indigenous languages in several countries, such as the UK, Canada or Australia. Producers, distributors and sales agents will discuss the ways in which underrepresented voices are supported in their journey across national borders.

 

Hannah Thomas

Head of Drama

Severn Screen

 

Emanuele Galloni

Head of Content

My Culture

 

Patrick O'Neill

Founder and Managing Director

Wildcard

 

Mitchell Stanley

Producer

No Coincidence Media

 

Moderator:

Carmen Thompson

Film programmer and distributor

 

Host and Producer:

 

Lawrence Francis,

www.linkedin.com/in/l-francis

AI: Routes to a desirable future

An international panel of researchers and practitioners will discuss the road that the industry is travelling in working with artificial intelligence and its impact on the near future. The conversation will address best practices in screenwriting, filmmaking, VFX and music composition.

 

David Defendi

Founder of Genario and screenwriter

Genario

 

Katharina Gellein Viken

filmmaker and showrunner

Metrotone Media

 

Graham Jack

Chief Technology Officer

beloFX

 

Rachel Lyske

CEO of Generative

Daaci

 

Moderator:

Rishi Coupland

Director of Research and Industry Innovation 

BFI

Talent Talk: My Father's Shadow

Writer-director Akinola Davies’ first feature film, My Father’s Shadow (‘Un Certain Regard’), brings us on a journey through the city of Lagos, Nigeria, seen from the perspective of two young brothers. The director, whose short film Lizard was the winner of Sundance Short Film Grand Jury Prize, will be in conversation with co-writer Wale Davies, UK producer Rachel Dargavel, Nigerian co-producer Funmbi Ogunbanwo and BBC FILM Director Eva Yates. The film is supported by BBC FILM and the BFI. 

Speakers:

AKINOLA DAVIES JNR | Writer-director
MY FATHER'S SHADOW

WALE AKINOLA DAVIES JNR | Writer
MY FATHER'S SHADOW

RACHEL DARGAVEL | Producer
Element Films/Crybaby Films | MY FATHER'S SHADOW

FUNMBI OGUNBANWO | Producer
Fatherland Productions | MY FATHER'S SHADOW

EVA YATES | Director
BBC Film

Moderator:

AMA AMPADU | Senior Production and Development Executive
BFI 

Creativity and Disability: When Challenges Spark Innovation

Working with disabled filmmakers, actors and crew often challenges the habits of the industry whilst at the same time providing a springboard for creativity and innovation. Our panel of writers, filmmakers and access coordinators will share their experiences on and off film sets.

 

Panellists

 

Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini

Writer and filmmaker

 

Abbie Hills

Access Coordinator and Talent Agent

 

Mari Sanders

Writer-director

 

Moderator:

Anna Higgs

Managing Director

Character 7

 

Find our more by visiting www.screenuk.org/industry

 

Host and Producer:

 

Lawrence Francis, PREMIER

www.linkedin.com/in/l-francis

 

Meet the UK Festivals

UK film festival directors share their views on cinema, creativity and the international circulation of independent films. Join the directors from BFI London Film Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Glasgow Film Festival and Leeds International Film Festival for an insightful conversation around films, talent and audiences.  

 

Panelists

Chris Fell

Director

Leeds International Film Festival

 

Allison Gardner

CEO, Glasgow Film

Director, Glasgow Film Festival

 

Kristy Matheson

Director

BFI Festivals

 

Paul Ridd

CEO & Festival Director

Edinburgh International Film Festival

 

Moderator:

Zac Ntim

International Film Reporter

Deadline

For more information visit www.screenuk.org/industry

 

Host and Producer:

 

Lawrence Francis, MD, PREMIER

www.linkedin.com/in/l-francis

 

 

 

The Art of Being a Minority Co-Producer

Join us for a discussion about international co-productions and boosting a project’s potential in a competitive international market. Film fund executives from Germany, Canada, the Netherlands and the UK guide us through different support schemes and look at coproductions from the point of view of the minority party. Is there an art of being a minority coproducer?

 

Guests:

 

Julie Blondin

National Director, Business affairs & Co-productions

Telefilm Canada

 

Dany Delvoie

Project Manager International

Netherlands Film Fund

Birthe Klinge

 

CEO Advisor and Funding Executive for International Co-Productions 

German Federal Filmboard (FFA)

 

Denitsa Yordanova

Head of UK Global Screen Fund and International Funds

BFI

 

Moderator:

Bertrand Moullier

Film and TV Industry Consultant

Narval Media

 

 

Host and Producer:

Lawrence Francis, MD, PREMIER

www.linkedin.com/in/l-francis