Pitch to Aardman and Netflix with Glasgow Film Festival's Industry Focus

The full programme has been announced for Glasgow Film Festival’s annual Industry Focus. The five day event brings together Film and TV professionals from the UK, Europe and worldwide for a packed programme of panel discussions, workshops, screenings and networking, with a focus on female-identifying talent across all aspects of the industry.

GFF Industry Focus highlights a range of topics geared towards all levels and sectors of the industry – from individuals seeking pathways into the industry, to established professionals – with a programme that provides a platform for professional development and a meeting place to help connect creatives with business delegates. The industry programme will conclude on 7 March when the festival team and Industry Advisory Board will launch their 10-Year Vision for Glasgow Film Festival’s Industry Focus. They will lay out their ambitious plans for talent development and the future of the industry programme.

15-25 year olds interested in a career in film can also look forward to BFI Film Academy: Behind the Scenes, a group of industry events co-curated by the GFF Young Ambassadors designed specifically for young people.

Highlights of the Industry Focus include:

The Animatic Live Pitch; GFF’s innovative new animation talent development scheme will culminate with a Live Pitch where participants will get the opportunity to present their project to a panel of animation executives including Netflix’s Lauren Castro and Julio Bonet, who have supported the development of the Animatic scheme, and Aardman’s Helen Argo. The panel will then select the project which will be awarded £5000 development funding.
Filmmaking with Glasgow’s very own Kevin Macdonald (Last King of Scotland, State of Play and Touching the Void) as he talks about his career in retrospect and his latest works.
NextGen which celebrates a new wave in British filmmaking and brings together filmmakers Lucy Cohen (Edge of Summer), Adura Onashile (Girl) and Charlotte Regan (Scrapper) in conversation, changemaker and award-winning producer Mia Bays Head of Filmmaking Fund at the BFI and Eva Yates, a long-time champion of British debut filmmakers at BBC Film who commissioned all three filmmakers titles.
The inaugural Book to Screen live pitching event where publishing houses from across Scotland will pitch their books to producers and production houses, in partnership with Publishing Scotland.
Script Spotlight, a unique event that brings script writers and actors together into one room. A selection of actors from Spotlight will perform early script extracts from BAFTA Connect members, and both parties will receive feedback on performance and writing alike.
Working in Hostile Environments with filmmaker Robbie Fraser, journalist David Pratt and Mac McGearey of North Star Safety Group. The panel will focus on the individuals capturing vital images behind the camera in high-risk environments, whether it be conflict zones or natural disaster sites. Topics include: training, the risks of flying solo and the practical requirements of insuring yourself for such work.
GFF’s collaboration with BBC Scotland for a Comedy Showcase with Executives Louise Thornton and Gavin Smith presenting a panel discussion with Niamh McKeown and Ashley Storrie on broadcast pathways for comedy talent in Scotland, before concluding with sketch, stand up and comedy clips from guests Susie McCabe, Jim Smith, and Noising Up, hosted by Paul Black.
121 sessions offering industry delegates an exclusive opportunity to ask for advice and soundboard ideas through informal one-to-one conversations with established members of the industry. 121 guests include Ben Sharrock (Limbo), Paul Sng (Tish), Paul Laverty (The Old Oak), San San F Young (Hong Kong Mixtape), Julia Short (Trainspotting), Carolynne Sinclair Kidd (The Acid House) and representatives from MUBI, British Film Council, Scottish Documentary Institute and UK Global Screen Fund.
The Fireside Chat series which includes Changing Role of the Sales Agent with Julia Short; Asia Muci of Signature Entertainment discussing her extensive industry experience and an overview of her expertise in international sales and distribution in collaboration with NFTS Scotland; Chris Filip and Attica Dahkil from UK Global Screen Fund on options available to mid-level producers applying for their various funding pathways, demystifying the application process and offering insight into the schemes offered by the Fund; and barry crerar, the producing duo, Ciara Barry and Rosie Crerar, behind Expensive Shit, Girl and Sebastian, talking the audience through their journey to where they are now before taking questions on how to build a sustainable production career.
Working Differently Panel & Networking with Hannah Currie, director of Working Differently, Moya Crawley, producer of Working Differently, and contributors Sarah Drummond, LS Productions and Johnathan Muller. The Portal Arts panel on inclusivity and neurodivergence in the film industry will be followed with a networking event.
Current Climate: The Distribution & Exhibition Landscape with speakers Tejinder Jouhal of Hanway, David Gattens of the Glasgow Film Theatre and Senior Executive for Sales and Distribution for the BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Fund Vikki Brown. They will share the highs and lows of exhibition and its ever evolving position in the film ecosystem and discuss the changing climate of distribution in the UK.
Coffee Morning networking events hosted by the likes of BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Fund, BETCU Vision, and Czech Film Fund.

Allison Gardner, CEO of Glasgow Film and Director of GFF, said: “The Industry Focus at Glasgow Film Festival is an essential focus point for the screen sector in Scotland and provides key opportunities for film professionals across Scotland, the UK and further afield to connect, network and share ideas. The expanded programme will create a hub of industry focused activity at the festival. This year we will also launch our ambitious Industry Focus 10-Year Vision, which has been developed with our Industry Advisory Board and we are excited to share our plans with the screen industry.”

Isabel Davis, Executive Director of Screen Scotland, said: “Glasgow Film Festival’s industry programme is a vital moment for Scotland’s screen sector to come together, to exchange ideas, make new connections and get updated on industry developments. The programme’s expansion offers a host of new and innovative events for Scotland’s thriving talent pool. We will be looking forward to seeing new creative relationships and projects come through as a result.”

Industry Focus passes are on sale now until Wednesday 14 February at £130 / £110 concession. To purchase passes visit https://www.glasgowfilmfest.org/accreditation

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Mary Munoz

Editor at Moviescramble. European cinema, grisly thrillers and show stopping musicals are my bag. Classic Hollywood Cinema is comfort food. Spare time is heavily dependent on a lot of pizza and power ballads.

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