22/06/2006

From June 27-30, the cream of an international crop of scriptwriters, directors and producers will take part in the first Screenwriters’ Festival in Cheltenham Film Studios (South West England), with top names such as Nicholas Roeg and Alan Scott (Don’t Look Now), William Nicholson (Gladiator), Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park), Olivia Hetreed (The Girl with the Pearl Earring [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), Tony Grisoni (Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas), Stephen Woolley (The Crying Game), Debbie Isitt (Confetti) and Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) announced as keynote speakers.

The event, organised in association with Film Four and 20 other UK sponsors, will draw upon a dozen high quality speakers to stimulate debate and creativity and encourage critical analyses of screenwriting in all its forms, from the traditional feature to the new world of bite-size communication and entertainment. The festival will kick off with the New Writer’s Day, which will include three main panels:

– The Pitch Factor, in association with Channel 4’s Ideasfactory will offer aspiring screenwriters a chance to pitch their ideas to a prestigious panel that includes Oscar-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes.

– Producer Kevin Loader (The History Boys) will discuss various ways to break into the film industry.

– Writer/director Dan Reed will explain the making of Straightheads, his first feature for Film Four due out early 2007.

Other professionals who will talk about their personal experiences and offer their valuable input include producer Gina Carter (Bright Young Thing [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), who will discuss the financing of challenging scripts; and producer James Watkins and scriptwriter Nic Ransome, the creative duo behind My Little Eye, who will talk about making horror films for an international audience.