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-directorPILLION LEE GROOMBRIDGE | ProducerPILLION GARETH SCALES | EditorPILLION NICK MORRIS | Director of PhotographyPILLION Moderator: WENDY MITCHELL | Journalist and film festival consultant   Podcast presented and produced for ScreenUK by Lawrence Francis, Premier PR www.premiercomms.com   

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 ProducerTRAILBLAZER | Singer Studios LESLEY PATERSON | Executive ProducerTRAILBLAZER | BraveArt Entertainment ORIANA NEIDECKER | ProducertAxI STEPHEN HENDERSON | DirectortAxI | Nilor Studio Moderator: SILVIA ANGRISANI | Industry Programmes ManagerBFI Podcast hosted and produced by Lawrence Francis

‘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 AcquisitionsXYZ MARIA EKERHOVD | ProducerMer Film KATARZYNA SINIARSKA | Head of SalesNew Europe Film Sales OLIVER KASSMAN | ProducerEscape Plan Productions Moderator: VICKI BROWN | Snr Executive, Sales & DistributionBFI

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 | ProducerBRING THEM DOWN | Tailored Films (Ireland) IVANA MACKINNON | ProducerBRING THEM DOWN | Wild Swim Films (UK) RUTH TREACY | ProducerBRING THEM DOWN | Tailored Films (Ireland) VICTORIA BARRELL | ProducerLOMU | Sylver Entertainment EMMA SLADE | ProducerLOMU | Tahi Productions

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

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

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-directorMY FATHER'S SHADOW WALE AKINOLA DAVIES JNR | WriterMY FATHER'S SHADOW RACHEL DARGAVEL | ProducerElement Films/Crybaby Films | MY FATHER'S SHADOW FUNMBI OGUNBANWO | ProducerFatherland Productions | MY FATHER'S SHADOW EVA YATES | DirectorBBC Film Moderator: AMA AMPADU | Senior Production and Development ExecutiveBFI 

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  

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      

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

In this episode we are joined by Harris Dickinson (Triangle of Sadness, Babygirl, Scrapper), whose first feature film, Urchin, premieres in ‘Un Certain Regard’ at Cannes Film Festival 2025. Harris is joined on the panel by director of photography Josée Deshaies (The Beast, Big Giant Wave, Babysitter) and producer Archie Pearch. Urchin is backed by BBC FILM and the BFI.   Guests:   Harris Dickinson Writer-director URCHIN   Archie Pearch Producer Devisio Pictures URCHIN   Josée Deshaies Director of Photography URCHIN   Moderator: Wendy Michell Journalist and Film festival Consultant     Host and Producer: Lawrence Francis www.linkedin.com/in/l-francis  

This is the podcast for the film industry. Subscribe now for the new series of the ScreenUK Industry Podcast, which will be coming to you from the ScreenUK Pavilion at the heart of the Cannes film Festival 2025. For more information about the series visit www.screenuk.org/industry or follow us or drop us a message on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/screen-uk-industry    About ScreenUK: Welcome to our worlds Screen UK represents England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and every region, city, town, village and corner of this place we call home. The most outstanding screen businesses are born and become brilliant here. Creative and innovative film, TV, documentary, animation and games companies – all with their own ways of bringing creative excellence and unique ideas to screens all over the world. Screen UK Industry represents our national and regional agencies at key international festivals and markets. We aim to showcase UK creative excellence to the world and encourage engagement and collaboration with UK talent and businesses by helping to: > make and develop international connections and provide information about our production industry – including our outstanding production services, talent, locations and content. > be the place the UK screen industry uses to provide information that promotes their work internationally; and the place the international industry turns to find out more on how to collaborate with the UK screen sector.  

Join us for a deep dive into two immersive works, both featuring in Cannes Immersive Competition. Artists Poulomi Basu and CJ Clarke bring us behind the scenes of Maya: The Birth of a Superhero, an immersive story following an ordinary girl as she transforms into a uniquely female superhero whose powers derive from menstruation. The work will have its European premiere in Cannes. We are also joined by producers Emma Hamilton and Sam Pressman who guide us through Evolver (French Premiere), a work which takes the audience on a journey inside the human body, through the processes that sustain all life. Moderator: Ulrich Schrauth | XR & Immersive Programme LeadBFI Speakers: Poulomi Basu | Creator and co-directorMaya: The Birth of a Superhero CJ Clarke | Co-directorMaya: The Birth of a Superhero Emma Hamilton | ProducerEvolver [Marshmallow Laser Feast] Sam Pressman | ProducerEvolver [CEO Pressman Film]   Podcast hosted and produced by Lawrence Francis.   For more information about ScreenUK Industry visit www.screenuk.org/industry and follow us on LinkedIn atwww.linkedin.com/company/screen-uk-industry/      

With intensifying competition for talent and skills, significant production cost inflation and disruptive changes in the modes of consumption, the sales performance of UK independent films face complex challenges. In this episode we meet a panel of international sales agents and distributors to discuss how UK films travel across borders. Do genre films travel more widely than arthouse, auteur-driven films? And what does ‘UK cinema’ mean to other countries? From works by internationally renowned filmmakers to breakthrough first features, the episode delves into the cultural and economic aspects of the international circulation of UK films. Moderator: Wendy Mitchell | Journalist and film festival consultant Speakers: Stephan De Potter | CEOCineart Stefano Massenzi | Head of AcquisitionsLucky Red Sarah Mosses | CEO Together Films Fabien Westerhoff | CEOFilm Constellation   Podcast hosted and produced by Lawrence Francis.   For more information about ScreenUK Industry visit www.screenuk.org/industry and follow us on LinkedIn atwww.linkedin.com/company/screen-uk-industry/

Writer-director Sandhya Suri, producer Mike Goodridge and BBC FILM director Eva Yates discuss Santosh, the narrative directorial debut of writer-director Sandhya Suri. Premiering in ‘Un Certain Regard’, Santosh is an international co-production, with UK Good Chaos in association with Suitable Pictures and Production Scope in India and in co-production with Razor Film in Germany and Haut et Court in France. Moderator: Kristy Matheson | DirectorBFI London Film Festival Speakers: Sandhya Suri | Writer and directorSantosh Mike Goodridge | ProducerGood Chaos Eva Yates | DirectorBBC Film     Podcast hosted and produced by Lawrence Francis.   For more information about ScreenUK Industry visit www.screenuk.org/industry and follow us on LinkedIn atwww.linkedin.com/company/screen-uk-industry/  

Meet our panel of creatives, working across film, television and games, and discover how they are playing with different media, experimenting new ways of telling stories. In this episode we investigate creative processes and explore affinities and differences, travelling through traditional and interactive films; short-form content for the internet and TV; and films and novels adapted into games.  Moderator: Nadia Maria Oliva | Film and industry programmer Speakers: John Giwa-Amu | CEOGood Gate Media Neil McPhillips | Co-Head of GamesBlazing Griffin  Eline van der Velden | Founder and CEOParticle6   Podcast hosted and produced by Lawrence Francis.   For more information about ScreenUK Industry visit www.screenuk.org/industry and follow us on LinkedIn atwww.linkedin.com/company/screen-uk-industry/  

Independent film is supported in the UK by a diverse range of public funds, broadcasters and private investors, with funding schemes spanning development, production and distribution. In this episode we bring together six UK public funders in conversation, exploring the funds’ national and international ambitions, the strategies to empower emerging talent in a new media landscape, and their approach to creativity and risk.  Moderator: Louise Tutt | Deputy EditorScreen International   Speakers: Mia Bays | Director | BFI National Lottery Filmmaking FundBFI Isabel Davis | Executive DirectorScreen Scotland Ursula Devine | Development ExecutiveNorthern Ireland Scotland Shanida Scotland | Co-director and Global Head of FilmDoc Society Lee Walters | Chief ExecutiveFfilm Cymru Wales Denitsa Yordanova | Head of UK Global Screen Fund and International FundsBFI   Podcast hosted and produced by Lawrence Francis.   For more information about ScreenUK Industry follow us at @screenukind visit www.screenuk.org/industry and visit us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/screen-uk-industry/  

What do Godzilla Minus One, European arthouse films and anime have in common? Join our panel of international experts for this episode which looks at innovative projects and release strategies to reach new audiences. The episode looks into how young film lovers are engaging with arthouse films in the ‘European Film Challenge’ project; and to what extent the relationship with fans and influencers can shape the release strategy of distributors such as Piece of Magic Entertainment. We will look at new initiatives developed through the Futura Cinema incubation hub in France and the UK ‘Escapes’ project, to create and grow more inclusive and accessible cinema experiences.  Moderator:  Ben Luxford | Director of UK AudiencesBFI Speakers: Sarah Calderon | DirectorThe Film Agency  Ian Cartwright | Co-founderElevenfiftyfive Manon Dulauroy | Distribution DirectorPiece of Magic Entertainment Anne Pouliquen | DirectorFutura Cinema     Podcast hosted and produced by Lawrence Francis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-francis-premier/)   For more information about ScreenUK Industry visit www.screenuk.org/industry and follow us on LinkedIn atwww.linkedin.com/company/screen-uk-industry/  

Film projects need a nurturing environment to thrive, and international collaborations have increasingly proved essential to attract financiers and improve projects’ competitiveness. The episode explores how filmmakers can leverage their participation in international co-production forums and markets to forge sustainable partnerships and gain access and visibility beyond national borders. Moderator: Jo Duncombe | Senior Consultant: new talent programmesBritish Council Speakers: Guevara Namer | DOK Co-Pro Market CoordinatorDok Leipzig Alessandra Pastore | Market ManagerWhen East Meets West Justin Pechberty | Co-founderLes Valseurs  Elhum Shakerifar | Producer and CuratorHakawati   Podcast hosted and produced by Lawrence Francis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-francis-premier/)   For more information about ScreenUK Industry visit www.screenuk.org/industry and follow us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/screen-uk-industry/

This episode unpacks the details of the UK’s new Audio-Visual Expenditure Credits which were introduced at the start of this year. Our panel of experts talk about the new uplifted AVEC of 53% (40% after tax) which was announced in March for UK qualifying independent films. This new measure is open to UK qualifying films with budgets up to £15m and which have a UK writer and/or UK director, or which qualify as official co-productions under one of the UK’s bi-lateral treaties or the European Convention. Moderator: Anna Mansi | Director of Video Games & CertificationBFI Speakers: Judith Chan | Executive DirectorCoutts & Co Harriet Finney | Deputy Chief ExecutiveBFI Isla MacGillivray | PartnerSaffery Bennett McGhee | Co-founderHome Team Podcast hosted and produced by Lawrence Francis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-francis-premier/) For more information about ScreenUK Industry visit www.screenuk.org/industry and follow us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/screen-uk-industry/