Packed industry programme announced for 62nd BFI London Film Festival

Shifting sands and seismic change are the themes at the heart of the 62nd BFI London Film Festival’s industry programme, which is unveiled in full today. As the UK readies itself for life after Brexit and the international film industry adapts to new technologies, evolving business models and the urgency for more inclusive representation on and off screen, this year’s LFF industry programme welcomes industry leaders and key policy makers for a programme designed to stimulate debate, share knowledge and drive forward change.

Guests include Dr Stacy L. Smith, mastermind of the ‘inclusion rider’; Jeff Pope, BAFTA-winning screenwriter; Oscar-winning composer Alexandre Desplat; Ed Guiney, Head of Element Pictures and producer of this year’s American Express Gala, The Favourite; Femi Oguns, founder of the Identity Agency Group; Elizabeth Karlsen, co-founder of Number 9 Films and producer of BFI Patrons Gala, Colette; Presidents Emeritus of the the Producers Guild of America (PGA), Gary Lucchesi & Lori McCreary; Sam Klebanov, founder of Cinezen Blockchained Entertainment; and Ben Roberts, Director of the BFI Film Fund. Organisations supporting sessions for delegates include the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the Producers Guild of America, The Production Guild of Great Britain, Abacus, Creative Europe Desk UK, Women In Film & Television UK, and Directors UK.

Highlights include a deep-dive into the transformational potential of blockchain technologies in the creation and distribution of film and TV; an examination of how to approach authenticity in casting, using examples from film, TV and theatre; a focus on the importance of diversity in film criticism led by leading journalists from the UK and the US; an update on Brexit and its current implications for UK film; events focusing on improving gender, working class and disabled funding and representation on and off screen through interventions such as the inclusion rider and the BFI Diversity Standards; and an expert-led look at what makes an Oscar-winning film score in association with AMPAS; and brand new research from the BFI and Ampere Analysis on how audiences are navigating the multiple platform film ecosystem.    

These events are in addition to the previously announced LFF Connects and Screen Talks with participants including Keira Knightley, Alfonso Cuaron, Simon Amstell, Lee Chang-dong and David Hare. More LFF Connects and Screen Talks will be announced in the coming weeks.