10/10/2006

As part of its exceptional 50th anniversary celebration, this year’s Times BFI London Film Festival (October 18-November 2) is putting together a record number of industry events, including the first Meet the Buyer session on October 24.

Thanks to continued funding from the London Development Agency and the Mayor of London through Film London, a series of industry screenings will take place at the Curzon Soho from October 23-26.

Two business-oriented seminars, co-hosted by the UK Film Council, will take place respectively on October 20 and 30: “Making the most of your money”, organised in association with Revolver Entertainment and Warp X will look at the opportunities for financing and distribution of UK independent productions in the age of new media; the second event, “Getting in the picture”, will focus on how to develop a career in the film industry.

Film London will also be involved with Skillset in a five-day training programme for 25 filmmakers seeking to develop their careers. “Think-shoot-distribute” will provide creative and business training on various aspects of the filmmaking process with the help of a range of top professionals, including writer Tony Grisoni, producers Chris Collins, Terry Ilott and Julie Baines, and executives Nick Manzi (Lionsgate), Joy Wong (The Works ) and Simon Perry (Irish Film Board).

“Working Your Future”, another training programme aimed at nurturing the film talent of tomorrow, will be presented by veteran producer Michael Kuhn (Qwerty Films) while documentary filmmaker Nick Broomfield will be discussing “From Fact to Fiction: The making of Nick Broomfield’s Ghosts” on Friday, October 27.

Lastly, world-renowned filmmaker Phillip Noyce will take part in a career overview in association with the Directors Guild of Great Britain on October 30.