London Film Festival industry programme events announced
The Times BFI London Film Festival announces events including talk by James Schamus , Think-Shoot-Distribute and Power to the Pixel.
15Sep09
The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival in association with Skillset, is pleased to announce that the Oscar-nominated and BAFTA winning producer and screenwriter James Schamus will talk on the following theme on Tuesday 27October: "MY WIFE IS A TERRORIST: LESSONS IN STORYTELLING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
Festival Artistic Director, Sandra Hebron said, "We are delighted to be working alongside Skillset on this event. James in not only someone with an enviable track record in our industry, he is also a scholar and an original thinker, and was our obvious first choice to deliver this keynote speech. I am thrilled he accepted our invitation, and am very much looking forward to what promises to be a fascinating and thought-provoking address."
Neil Peplow, Director of Film at Skillset, said: "James is the perfect person to deliver the inaugural LLF/Skillset Industry Keynote Address. Combining a hugely successful career, in his words, 'helping run the studio, screenwriting, producing films and teaching at Columbia', he has a truly unique perspective to present, and one that I'm sure we'll all be fascinated to learn from. By establishing this Industry Keynote Address I'm delighted that Skillset is able to build on our partnership with the LFF and complement the many other initiatives that we support at the festival."
Further innovations in the Festival's 2009 industry programme include a major one day film festivals forum Virtually A Reality: How to Digitise Your Festival, in association with the UK Film Council, Skillset and Film London; which will look at digital opportunities for film festivals across the UK's regions and nations, as well as a major debate on the role and importance of cinema and particularly British films in contemporary culture, also in association with the UK Film Council.
Pete Buckingham, Head of Distribution at the UK Film Council (the Festival's principal funder) said: "Not only are we at the UK Film Council proud to be involved at the heart of this year's London Film Festival, but we're also excited that such a world-renowned writer and producer is coming to the festival to talk to filmmakers and film fans at what promises to be a major cultural and thought-provoking event. The UK Film Council's support for initiatives such as Power to the Pixel, the first forum for all those who run film festivals, and a public debate on film and culture, is helping to bring exciting must-go events at the LFF to both filmmakers and audiences."
Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London said: "Film London continues to support the LFF's industry programme, acknowledging it is a vital part of the festival. The various training programmes and discussion events – which utilise the wealth of talent attending the festival – offers valuable learning opportunities and provide a significant legacy for the capital's film-makers. In addition to this, the LFF provides a recognised destination for the international industry to do business – through events such as the Production Finance Market – which has a fantastic impact on the city. It brings valuable business to the capital helping to maintain its position as a competitive global economic centre. We are especially grateful to London Development Agency for their continued funding to allow us to support this element of the festival."
Core industry activities returning this year include:
- Four days of Industry Screenings at the Curzon Soho, Monday 19 – Thursday 22 October, that will include a major Meet the Buyer session on Tuesday 20 October, and an event on 21 Oct in association with the UK Media Desk.
- The Festival's professional development programme Think-Shoot-Distribute, supported by the Skillset Film Skills Fund and Film London, is now in its sixth year. The course brings together 25 talented filmmakers developing their feature film careers with leading industry professionals for a week of mentoring, workshops and master classes at the Hospital Club in Covent Garden 19-23 October. Past participants include Geraldine Patten, who was selected as one of the Screen International 'Stars of Tomorrow' and Rowland Jobson, whose most recent short film was selected to screen in the Venice Film Festival. Johnny Barrington, Deborah Haywood and Esther May Campbell were selected for the UKFC's Director's Lab and equally, Esther May Campbell won a BAFTA for Best Short Film.
- Power to the Pixel: The Cross-Media Film Forum returns to the Festival for its third year 14-15 October at the BFI Southbank and the Royal Society of Arts in London. Now firmly established as a leading event in the UK film industry calendar, Power to the Pixel brings together creators and key digital innovators: pioneers who are developing new models of storytelling, film financing and film distribution across multiple platforms. The forum comprises a conference, practical workshops, business meetings with experts, networking receptions and the brand new Pixel Pitch. Power to the Pixel is supported by major funder Skillset and main partners the UK Film Council, the Arts Council England, NESTA and Babelgum.
- Aimed specifically at undergraduate and recently graduated filmmakers, 'Working Your Future' gives young filmmakers a taste of what they might expect at the start of their career. The event's keynote address will be delivered by Simon Perry, CEO of Irish Film Board and President of ACE (Ateliers du Cinéma Européen).
- The Festival is once again working alongside Film London on various projects including the third edition of its highly successful Production Finance Market taking place 20-21 October. Entry to the PFM is by invitation only and selection has now closed. Film London will announce full details of delegates and the Keynote speaker later this month.
Commenting on the industry programme as a whole, Sandra Hebron comments: "We are committed to the long-term development of our industry activities and services, and thanks to new funding from the UK Film Council and the ongoing support of our existing partners, not only are we able to invite more international filmmakers and other film professionals to join us in London this October, but we also hope to be able to provide them with a better quality of festival experience."
For further information and updates on Industry events visit: www.lff.org.uk/industry or contact:
Nigel Cross (Industry Development Manager): 020 7928 3535 ext 1390 / nigel.cross@bfi.org.uk
Notes to editors:
Skillset
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Creative Media which comprisesTV, film, radio, interactive media, animation, computer games, facilities,photo imaging and publishing. Jointly funded by industry and government, our job is to help the UK creative media industries have the right people, with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time, so that our industries remain competitive. For more information visit: www.skillset.org.
A Bigger Future is a strategic plan for delivering industry relevant skills in the UK film industry. The result of 12 months research and consultation with the industry - from those involved in script development to those working in exhibition - it is a £50m, five-year plan. It is funded by the National Lottery through the UK Film Council, and from contributions made to the Skills Investment Fund (SIF) from feature films, and additionally-levered sources of finance.
UK Film Council
The UK Film Council is the Government backed lead agency for film in the UK ensuring that the economic, cultural and educational aspects of film are effectively represented at home and abroad. We invest Government grant-in-aid and Lottery money in developing new filmmakers, in funding exciting new British films and in getting a wider choice of films to audiences throughout the UK. We also invest in training, promoting Britain as an international filmmaking location and in raising the profile of British films abroad.
The UK Film Council is the principal funder of The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival investing £1.8 million of Lottery money over three years. Our Festivals Fund is giving more people the opportunity to enjoy more films, learn about film and meet filmmakers through film festivals.
Film London
Film London, the capital's film and media agency, again supports the London Film Festival's industry office and programme with funding from the London Development Agency and the Mayor of London.
Film London will also run the third Production Finance Market, in association with The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival. The two-day event (21-22 October) facilitates face-to-face meetings between producers and financiers to encourage new financing relationships. It is the only event of its kind in the UK and is supported by the London Development Agency, UK Film Council, UK Trade and Investment, MEDIA and peacefulfish. Entry to the PFM is by invitation only and selection has now closed. Film London will announce full details of delegates and the Keynote speaker later this month. www.filmlondon.org.uk/pfm
For further information regarding Power to the Pixel and for delegate registration visit: http://powertothepixel.com/. Full details for Power to the Pixel will be announced shortly.
For Power to the Pixel press enquiries, please contact Freud Communications:
Emma White emma.white@freud.com +44 20 3003 6302
Kate Lee kate@freud.com +44 20 3003 6349
James Selman james.selman@freud.com +44 20 3003 6427
FOR FURTHER PRESS INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Press Office: +44 (0)207 292 8330.
Claire Gascoyne: claire.gascoyne@premierpr.com (Account Director)
Mia Farrell: mia.farrell@premierpr.com (Head of Print Press)
Lucy McGill: lucy.mcgill@premierpr.com (Senior Publicist, Broadcast & Online)
Annabel Hutton: annabel.hutton@premierpr.com (International Press)
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