The 67th BFI London Film Festival’s annual industry forum has assembled a lineup of heavyweights.
The forum events, which take place through the festival, kick off with a conversation between Bill Kramer, CEO, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) and Ben Roberts, BFI chief executive.
The first of the forum’s three spotlight conversations will see Jennifer Lee, chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, speak with Tricia Tuttle, head of directing fiction at the National Film and Television School, to talk about her career, her time working at Disney and the creative vision behind the upcoming animated musical comedy adventure “Wish,” which Lee co-wrote and executive produced.
In the second, Carole Baraton, co-founder and CEO of French sales company Charades will talking about making editorial choices, the relationship with talent, and the outfit’s vision of how to adapt to a market challenged by constant disruptions in a conversation with Isabel Davis, executive director of Screen Scotland. And in the third, See-Saw Films’ Emile Sherman, Iain Canning and Helen Gregory will be in conversation with Clare Stewart, managing director, International Film Festival Rotterdam about their careers, their work with leading talent, their insights on the international market and a closer look at the three films they have in this year’s festival – “One Life,” “The Royal Hotel” and “Foe.”
In addition, there are industry panels on emerging writers, AI and international co-productions. In association with Variety, a panel will feature Mahalia Belo whose feature directorial debut, supported by the BFI Filmmaking Fund, is an adaptation of Megan Hunter’s novel, “The End We Start From,” adapted for the screen by Alice Birch (“The Wonder”). Joining Belo will be producer Leah Clarke (“Sunny March”) and casting director Shaheen Baig as they share insights in assembling their creative team, working from pre-existing IP, raising finance, challenges in the editing room and how they secured a cast including Jodie Comer, Benedict Cumberbatch, Joel Fry, Katherine Waterston and Mark Strong. Leo Barraclough, director, international features, Variety, will moderate the discussion.
The festival’s U.K. Talent Days in partnership with the British Council, include a works-in-progress showcase; a networking lunch for U.K. and international delegates co-hosted by the U.K. Global Screen Fund; masterclasses and events for 15 emerging U.K.-based writers, directors and producers; and an event providing an opportunity for international sales agents to meet U.K. buyers via a speed-dating style set of one-to-one meetings.
The LFF industry program also includes the two-day Film London Production Finance Market and the forum will also be hosting networking events in partnership with Apple TV+, BFI Network, the British Council, Directors U.K., Focus, Glasgow Film Festival, Sunbelt Rental and Reddit.
The festival takes place Oct.4-15.
