The BFI London Film Festival 2024 has unveiled a vibrant line-up of speakers and events for the industry forum.
The film industry festival, which runs from October 10 to 16 at the Picturehouse Central cinema in central London, will be headlined by a trio of “LFF Spotlight” conversations with Tim Bevan, co-chairs of Working Title Films, and Eric Fellner ( whose current production includes Steve McQueen’s festival opener “Blitz”), Searchlight’s head of international production and development Katie Goodson-Thomas, and Apple TV+ creative director for Europe – and BFI chairman – Jay Hunt.
Elsewhere, Variety sponsors a conversation with Johnnie Burn, the award-winning sound designer whose long list of credits includes a long-term collaboration with Yorgos Lanthimos (including last year’s ‘Poor Things’) and ‘The Zone of Interest’, for which he won an Oscar.
Other events include conversations with documentary filmmakers Cécile Embleton (“Mother Vera”) and Manon Ouimet and Jacob Perlmutter (“Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other”) and the team behind “Last Swim,” including co-writer/director Sasha Nathwani, cinematographer Olan Collardy, co-writer/producer Helen Simmons and producers Campbell Beaton and Nisha Mullea. Meanwhile, four panel discussions will explore themes such as changing global markets, original storytelling, adaptations and remakes, film and TV work in the UK and the marketing of independent films with teams of sales agents, producers, emerging writers and marketing specialists respectively.
“We are excited about this year’s series of events for our industry forum and our sincere thanks go to the incredible talent and speakers for generously sharing their knowledge and experience,” said Kristy Matheson, Director of the London Film Festival. “Collaboration and learning are becoming increasingly important in our evolving industry as we look to forge new connections for collaboration and storytelling.”
In addition to the various talks, there will also be several networking events for creatives, producers and buyers and sellers, plus a work-in-progress showcase and Masterclass series for emerging British talent.
“This year’s industry program of talks and events aims to provide insights and inspiration,” said the festival’s program manager, Silvia Angrisani. “We welcome conversations with writers, directors, producers, financiers and sound designers, as well as international sales and marketing, as we consider how we balance creativity and risk. Our sessions offer delegates the opportunity to be in the room and hear from international industry leaders as well as new voices. Furthermore, our networking and business meetings will promote international collaborations and hopefully create an informal and warm environment to discover new talent and partners, locally and internationally.”
