The ScreenUK Industry Podcast

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

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

‘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

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

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