In Person and Online (all sessions streamed)
April 2nd to 4th, 2027 // Pitchfest March 31st to April 2nd
Regent’s University

James Skinner // Director

James is a London-based director, writer, and teacher with a background in documentary filmmaking. His award-winning short films have screened at major festivals, and he also teaches film and media production.

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Stuart Portman // Actor

Stuart is an actor, director, and producer working across stage and screen, currently completing an MA at Guildford School of Acting after a period in TV production and publicity.

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Annabel Rumble // Actor

Annabel is an actor, director and writer that works on both stage and screen. She has been acting since the age of 8 and has worked on multiple projects spanning a large range of genres.

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Why I booked next year before I even left by Helen Tompson

Last year, I partnered with Chris Jones to add to the official LSF podcast. It’s now up and running, and it’s opened doors I didn’t even know were there. So I came back this year already knowing just being at LSF could change things. What I didn’t expect was quite how much when at the closing ceremony I put my money where my mouth is!

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Speakers and Pitchfest Execs Feedback 2026

‘I had an absolute ball at the festival this year. From the army of red-shirts to the positive, friendly vibes in the greenroom, and everything else in between, it was a real buzz to mingle with enthusiastic writers, pitching their best ideas, to such an interesting and wide variety of professionals. I met so many interesting people, had great conversations, and came away feeling excited and ignited about the writing industry. Thanks for having me!’ Eleanor Greene // Producer

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Feedback 2026

‘Incredible experience fantastic vibe and people speakers. Super interesting sessions!’ Carolin Farber / Screenwriter, Five Stars!

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Liz Slade // Screenwriter and Host

Liz is a lawyer working in film marketing with a strong passion for cinema. She engages in the industry through writing, events, and media appearances, and is currently developing a short film she plans to direct.

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Paul Craig – Producer // Viewtorch Pictures

Paul is a creative and business leader in media with extensive experience across film, music, and production, and the founder of Viewtorch Pictures Media. He is seeking high-concept thrillers, dramas, sci-fi, and true stories with strong multi-platform and licensing potential, as well as projects with existing IP or built-in audiences.

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Hugo Andre – Producer // Red Blazer Productions

Hugo is a feature film producer who develops and supports filmmakers from concept to completion, with his latest film Happy as Larry set for release this year. He is now building a slate of projects focused on lean, character-driven stories across film and television in the UK and Europe.

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Kate Spiro // Actor

Kate’s screen work includes Brexit: The Uncivil War alongside Benedict Cumberbatch, Close to Me, and EastEnders, alongside a distinguished theatre career with the Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre, and Broadway.

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Barkha Bahar // Actor

Barkha is a RADA-trained actor whose work spans film, radio, and devised theatre, using magical realism to explore global women’s struggles and resilience.

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Samuel Bailey // Assistant Editor

Samuel Bailey is a London-based Assistant Editor working across blockbuster films and high-end television, including The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Beetlejuice 2, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

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Angela Dixon // Actor

Angela Dixon is an award-winning actor celebrated for her powerful, emotionally driven performances in films such as Never Let Go and Homeless Ashes, known for her fearless approach to storytelling, stunt work, and creating bold, socially impactful narratives both on screen and behind the scenes.

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Deborah Haywood // Director

Deborah Haywood is an acclaimed writer-director whose debut Pin Cushion premiered at Venice Critics’ Week, and who is now developing new projects with the BFI and BBC Films.

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Stephanie Shires // Project Manager

Stephanie is a UK Project Manager at Leverage Point Entertainment who supports film and TV productions with practical sustainability solutions, combining industry experience with a passion for environmentally conscious storytelling.

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Luke Foster – Producer // Iron Box Films

Luke Foster is a Development Executive at Iron Box Films and producer-screenwriter known for award-winning projects like The Siege on Liperti Street and Betsy & Leonard, with experience across film development, production, and script discussion platforms.

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Lucinda Whiteley – Prod/Co-founder // Novel Entertainment

Lucinda is an experienced producer and writer, co-founder and Creative Director of Novel Entertainment, known for creating hit children’s brands like Horrid Henry and The Roly Mo Show, with a background in major broadcasters and active leadership roles across the media industry.

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Belinda Peters // Actor

Belinda Peters is an experienced actor with credits across television, film, and theatre, including EastEnders and the award-winning The Shadow Within, as well as ongoing voiceover and upcoming Netflix work.

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Austin Staton // Director

Austin is the writer, producer, director and lead actor of the acclaimed film Perennial, having debuted in Hollywood at the prestigious Dances With Films Festival as well as several other film festivals including the UK premiere at the West London film festival.

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Myrto Makrides // Director

Myrto has over 20 hours of prime-time broadcast television work. She served as Lead Director on four successful drama and romantic comedy series (scripted/single-camera formats) in South Africa. Prior to directing Myrto worked in production and script supervising. In 2023 she founded Kinemyr Films, under which she has completed four UK short films. Currently she is developing additional projects as co-productions between the UK and South Africa.

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Pavel Douglas // Director

Pavel Douglas is an actor, director, writer and voice artist who has worked for decades with The Natural Theatre Company and now teaches and directs audio drama while guest lecturing at Bath Spa University.

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Matthew Stephenson – Exec // Amazon Studios

Melbourne-born producer Matt is now UK Production Finance Executive at Amazon MGM Studios, bringing a decade of experience from Australia’s indie film scene and the BFI Film Fund to oversee film, scripted, and unscripted projects.

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Vivi Stone – Head of Development // In.2 Film

Vivi (Veronica Vanessa) Stone is a Milan-born film professional who studied at The New School in New York City, gained experience across film, television, and publishing—including work on The Blacklist and with Italian publishers—and now works across literature, translation, and cinema between Italy and international projects.

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Austin Staton // Actor

Austin is a versatile film and theatre actor, writer-director, and filmmaker known for his immersive performances and visually striking, character-driven storytelling.

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Amber Wright // Actor

Amber is a visually driven actor-director blending movement, music, and bold storytelling to reimagine powerful female-led work across stage and screen.

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Daragh Carville // Screenwriter

Award-winning Irish screenwriter and playwright, best known as the co-creator and writer of the hit ITV crime drama The Bay. With a career spanning theatre, film, and television, his work is widely recognised for its emotional depth and strong sense of place.

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Justin McKenna // Actor

Justin is a London-based actor with a strong track record in fringe theatre in London and Edinburgh and some experience in writing and producing.

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Håkan Carlsson – Producer // Independent Exec

Håkan Carlsson is a Swedish producer and creative who has developed and co-starred in the series “Who’s the Monster?” while working on international film projects and seeking imaginative, genre-spanning ideas for original fiction in film and limited TV.

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Mike Davies – Producer // Darquill Films

Mike Davies is a producer and founder of Darkquill Films who specializes in psychologically rich, dark, and atmospheric storytelling while actively supporting independent cinema and seeking bold thriller and horror projects that leave a lasting impact.

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Neil Wetherall // Actor

Neil Weatherall is an actor, writer and filmmaker who has performed in theatre in London and at the Edinburgh Fringe, and has appeared in film and television as an extra and special action performer.

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Roze Elisa // Actor

Roze Elisa is a London- and Amsterdam-based Dutch actress, trained at East 15 Acting School, whose work spans film, television, theatre, and voice-over.

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Steffen Wild – Producer // Fourth Culture Films

Steffen Wild is Managing Director of Fourth Culture Films and an international producer whose credits include It’s a Wonderful Knife, Waiting for Anya, The Reckoning, City of Life and Death, In the Shadows of Nuremberg, and the recent Beatles biopic Midas Man.

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Elizabeth Hammond // Actor

A London-based actor specialising in warm, strong and quirky characters, with credits spanning Amazon Prime, the feature The Places We Leave Behind, the National Tour of Heartbeat, and the award-winning film Red Light.

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Behind The Scenes at the Online London Screenwriters Festival

I asked our team, Heather and Max, to make a BTS video the experience and here’s the result, capturing some of the energy, madness, fun and exhilaration of the two days. If you want to know about the next one, the best thing you can do is sign up to our email list and you will be carpet bombed with emails about it!

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Smari Gunn – Director // Beserk Films

Smari Gunn is a London-based writer-director and head of Freestyler Films whose debut feature The Home Game won multiple festival awards and who now works internationally as a screenwriter and script editor developing film and TV projects and co-productions.

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Christopher Holt – Writer/Director // Independent Exec

Christopher is a film and television writer-producer with over 20 years’ experience creating character-driven documentaries and dramas for major broadcasters including Netflix, BBC, Discovery, Channel 4, and Channel 5, earning multiple honours including BAFTA Awards nominations, an RTS Award, and a Peabody Award.

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Chris Curling – Producer // Zephyr Films

Zephyr Films is a film production company led by Chris Curling that creates internationally distributed, often European co-produced films—including The Last Station and The Bookshop—focused on bringing diverse stories and collaborations from across the world to the screen.

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Dos and Don’ts when developing your new comedy by Simon Nicholls

Writing a great sitcom isn’t just about landing jokes – it’s about crafting compelling characters, meaningful stakes and a clear point of view that keeps audiences invested. In this guide, award-winning producer Simon Nicholls shares essential dos and don’ts to help new comedy writers hit the ground running and avoid the most common pitfalls when developing a new show.

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Daniel Subin // Actor

An American raised in Atlantic City, NJ, and with strong ties to California, Daniel has lived in London for 30 years. An actor, voiceover artist and improviser, Daniel took a slight creative pivot a decade ago after graduating from a career in finance at hedge funds and investment banks.

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Kayleigh Jones // Comedian and Writer

Kayleigh is an award-winning comedian and writer with a background in acting and musical theatre, whose acclaimed debut show and BBC nominations have marked her as a bold new voice in comedy.

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Gabriel Oliver // Director

Gabriel Oliver is a queer Director, Writer and Producer based in London, committed to telling character-focused stories with artists, not machines.

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Paul FitzSimons // Producer

Paul is looking for genre (horror, thriller, crime) feature projects around £3.0M. also looking to connect with writers interested in writing on our TV Drama projects.

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Liza Carmel – Line Producer // Independent Executive

With nearly 30 years of experience in film and television production, Liza Carmel is a highly regarded production professional known for her creativity, precision, and calm, solutions-focused approach, bringing deep industry knowledge and trusted collaboration to drama and feature film projects from development through post.

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Tony Badu – Development Producer // Joi Productions

Tony is seeking ambitious, original or adapted series with broad appeal and co-production potential. He’s drawn to character-driven shows with edge, emotional depth and a distinctly UK swagger. Edgy sitcoms, gripping thrillers and elevated genre are especially welcome.

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Lisa Ronaghan // Actor

Trained at Royal Holloway, University of London and The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, Lisa is an internationally working actor whose credits span film, theatre and television, including collaborations with Steve McQueen and appearances in Humans and Emmerdale.

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Elaine Gracie // Screenwriter

Elaine Gracie is a Glasgow-born comedy screenwriter with a bold, distinctive voice, developing feature and television projects across the UK and US while building on her award-winning short film success.

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Danny Page // Producer

Danny Page is a UK-based producer and founder of Homefront Productions, known for championing bold, authentic storytelling across independent and studio films, including California Schemin’ and the upcoming thriller Faith.

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What Streaming 12 Hours a Day at a Festival Really Looks Like

Streaming four rooms simultaneously at the London Screenwriters Festival means 12 hours a day of live output across three days, and the real work happens before anyone hits “Go Live.” From stress-testing four parallel StreamYard feeds to building redundancy on a budget, here’s what large-scale event streaming actually looks like behind the scenes.

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Paul FitzSimons // Producer

Award-winning producer and screenwriter Paul FitzSimons is the founder of Prelude Content, crafting internationally recognised film and TV dramas while championing new talent across Ireland, the UK, Spain and Japan.

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A screenwriter at a cinematic desk surrounded by swirling visions of alternate worlds and genre characters

Your Characters are the Key: Unexpected Lessons in Worldbuilding with Genre Legends Frank Spotnitz and Peter Harness

In this recap of the LSF panel “Bending Our Reality: Creating Compelling Alternate Worlds,” Alison Weaverdyck shares key insights from Frank Spotnitz (X-Files, Man in the High Castle) and Peter Harness (Constellation, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell) on why connecting your audience to characters matters more than the intricacies of your world — and how to hook the 95% who aren’t super-fans.

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Elle Van Lil – Script Editor // Tall Story Pictures

Elle joined Tall Story Pictures in 2023 as a Trainee Script Editor after starting out at BBC’s Doctors and training with Patrick Spence Productions, and now works across development and production while taking part in the RISE mentorship programme run by Channel 4 and TripleC.

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Susan Simnett – Producer // Over The Fence Films

Independent producer Susan develops and co-produces distinctive, character-driven films across the UK and internationally, bringing creative leadership as Executive Producer to bold stories that challenge convention and spark conversation.

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Lisa Rose // Actor

North London actress, writer and drama coach Lisa Rose is a Brighton Fringe shortlisted performer whose Arts Council–funded play Too Small To Tell has played to packed houses following a career spanning film, theatre and audiobook work with RNIB.

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Ore Sanderson // Actor

London-based actor Oré is a BUFF-screened lead and Ealing Film Festival runner-up, recently appearing in VR anti-terrorist training film and producing award-recognised shorts including Alleged and The Long Walk.

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Philip Lawrence // Screenwriter

Philip began his career writing for the stage and then audio drama (Doctor Who/ Big Finish) before winning the C21 Drama Script Prize with his black comedy ‘Euthanasia In Suburbia’. He has since written numerous episodes for EastEnders, Holby City and Casualty.

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Constanza Ruff // Actor

Award-winning bilingual actress Constanza Ruff blends stage, screen and international circus performance into a fiercely physical storytelling style, from Olivier-winning theatre to leading film and voice roles.

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Eliza Leonard // Actor

Eliza Leonard is an actress and filmmaker from London. She specialises in horror , thriller and comedy film, both as a writer & performer.

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Lin Sagovsky // Actor

Lin Sagovsky is a classically trained actor and voice artist with a Master’s in Playwriting, who combines performance with scripting, coaching and interactive theatre to support businesses and emerging creatives alike.

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Julia Vita // Actor

Julia is a multilingual actress, circus performer and theatre-maker with over a decade of experience spanning physical theatre, film and touring shows, known for blending comedy and drama with a distinctive off-beat edge.

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Lakshmi // Actor

Lakshmi is a British actress and presenter with a background in Psychology and Philosophy, known for her versatile screen roles, hosting an 80s/90s music TV show, and fronting major campaigns like Selfridges Beauty.

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Catherine Hardwicke // Writer and Director

Catherine Hardwicke is the visionary director of Thirteen and Twilight, whose work spans Sundance-winning indies to billion-dollar global franchises that launched the careers of a generation’s biggest stars.

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Why I Started ‘The Screenwriters’ Slate UK’ and How It Can Help You Advance Your Career

Frustrated by the lack of consistent access to producers, execs, and agents, Cera created The Screenwriters’ Slate UK—a membership platform connecting writers directly with industry professionals through a searchable database, jobs board, competitions, and events. Designed to foster trusted relationships and create real career opportunities, the platform aims to bridge the gap between screenwriters and the wider UK film and TV industry.

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Ross Boyask // Director, Writer, Editor

Ross Boyask is an award-winning British genre filmmaker whose micro-budget action roots have grown into globally released features, building a cult following with hard-hitting films seen in over 60 countries worldwide.

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Chloe Gilgallon // Actor

Chloe is an Essex-based actress and voiceover artist whose work spans everything from EastEnders to Battlefield 6 — and yes, she’s the literal Voice of God on Wheel of Fortune UK.

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The Heart of Your Script: Mastering Your Middle Act

The title of the 2025 London Screenwriting session was actually “The Heart of Your Script: Mastering Your Middle Act”, but the “dark forest” metaphor was so useful and dominant during this talk by Ted Wilkes and Phillip Hughes that I thought it deserved a chance to shine in the recap.

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Dan Hubbard // Casting Director

Dan is an award-winning casting director trusted by top filmmakers to discover and elevate exceptional talent across internationally acclaimed film and television projects.

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David Caffrey // Director

David Caffrey is an award-winning Irish director and producer known for shaping iconic British and Irish dramas, including Line of Duty, Love/Hate, and Peaky Blinders, with a career spanning acclaimed film and television.

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Barry Ryan // MD & Creative Director

Barry is a highly experienced media professional with over 25 years in journalism and television, producing and directing award-winning content across major broadcasters and global platforms.

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Rob Sprackling // Screenwriter

Rob is an award-winning screenwriter and director. He conceived and co-wrote the original screenplay for Disney’s GNOMEO & JULIET starring Emily Blunt and James McAvoy with music by Elton John. It was number one in most territories worldwide and took $200m at the box office.

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Aschlin Ditta // Screenwriter and Producer

Aschlin Ditta is an award-winning British screenwriter, producer, and actor best known for his work on The Catherine Tate Show and for creating acclaimed television and film stories marked by sharp wit and emotional depth.

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Andy de Emmony // Director

Award-winning director Andy has helmed iconic comedy and acclaimed drama—from Spitting Image and Red Dwarf to Vigil and Netflix’s The Woods—building a career defined by versatility, critical success, and global reach.

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Tom Grieves // Screenwriter

Tom Grieves is an award-winning scriptwriter and novelist behind acclaimed UK and international TV dramas including Being Human, The Game, Miss Fallaci, and Stan Lee’s Lucky Man.

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Michael Foott // Screenwriter

Michael Foott is fast emerging as a dynamic force in television drama. His latest work, The Au Pair, is a captivating French/Irish collaboration for Channel 5, ITV Studios, and Canal Plus.

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Agnieszka Wieclawska // Actor

Agnieszka is a bilingual actor and writer based in London, from Poland. Her training includes Meisner technique and Identity School of Acting; she also attended Mischief Theatre’s Improvisation Course in 2024, continuing her improv journey started at Blanche Improv.

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Nikita Novikov // Director

Nikita Novikov is a director working both in narrative films and advertisements. Originally from Milan but based in London he brings a sharp eye for story, detail and purpose to every project. His recent film “Forgive Me, Father” won the Best Cinematography award and also getting a Best Editing honourable mention at the Monza Film Festival.

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Maxim Arandelovic // Director

Maxim Arandelovic is a writer-director from Amsterdam, currently based in London. A storyteller at heart, he aims to to share unique and interesting stories, one film at a time.

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Andy Bayliss // Screenwriter

Andy Bayliss is an award winning screenwriter and showrunner. As the Lead Writer for Holby City Andy was BAFTA nominated and wrote several specials, including the RTS award winning Arthur’s Death.

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Tiernan Hanby // Carnaby Talent Agency

Tiernan is an award-winning producer with deep expertise across UK film and high-end advertising, trusted to lead complex productions from creative development through rigorous financial and operational delivery for major films and global brands.

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Sarah Winstanley // Producer

Sarah is a seasoned television production leader with 20 years’ experience across major UK broadcasters and independent production, combining strategic commissioning, scheduling and finance expertise with hands-on delivery of film and TV projects from development to broadcast.

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Lee Jessup // Screenwriters Career Coach

Lee Jessup is a career coach dedicated exclusively to screenwriters’ professional development, drawing on her experience as former Director of ScriptShark and creator of a nationally recognized Business of Screenwriting seminar series.

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The Elevator Pitch

Darwin Building Elevator
One trip up, one trip down. And you don’t know who you’re pitching until the door opens.

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Podcast Ep024: Anthony Horowitz, Success Strategies for Screenwriters

Anthony Horowitz’s journey into screenwriting began with what he calls pure desperation – not his own, but that of the producers of Robin of Sherwood who needed someone to write for their show. With no television writing experience whatsoever, Horowitz literally bought a “How to Write Television” book and taught himself the craft.

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Phil and Ted Do Multi-Character Narratives

Herringham Hall
Join LSF Regulars Ted and Phil as they reveal the tricks of the trade when it comes to those brilliant films and shows where there may be no single and clear protagonsist but LOTS of intersecting stories and characters.

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Christina Beck // Screenwriter, Director & Actor

Punk rock–born director, writer, and actress Christina Beck is an award-winning indie filmmaker and film professor whose Cannes-screened work and female-driven storytelling span cult cinema, festival-winning features, and bold upcoming projects.

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Talent Campus Almuni Kick Off Podcast: No Bad Notes

Talent Campus 9.0 Graduate Hannah Palmer-Prior, with LSF’er Athena Mandis have just launched a podcast for screenwriters… Check it out! Here’s their blurb. Have you thought of jacking it all in after receiving notes on a script? Felt misunderstood? Or even that your masterpiece was not read properly? Rest assured you’re not alone.

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Podcast Ep022: My First Time In Cannes with Talent Camper Rebecca Colby

Here’s the thing that might surprise you – Rebecca didn’t even have a finished project to pitch when she decided to attend. Like many of us, she questioned whether she should wait until she had something concrete to show. But as she discovered, that’s not what Cannes is all about. It’s about diving in, making connections, and learning the ropes of the industry. As she put it, “I’m so glad I did because I’ve learned so much this week.”

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You know that you’ve come home when it feels like Disneyland

I offered to write a blog as I had such a ball on the LSF live stream this April. Its my first time, having had no awareness of LSF (how did that happen?!) until a work colleague gave me a link about the Thursday Replays. I also did the March online-only festival and was able to sign up for streaming-only ticket on the April festival.

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Diary Of A Screenwriter at LondonSWF by Helen Tompson

A jam packed day, which started with a double session with Samantha Horley – a hugely helpful insight to the commissioning process and how a script is sold, how genres impacts this, and what you can do to really bring home your pitch in the premise with genre.

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Feedback for the London Screenwriters’ Festival 2025

‘Attending the London Screenwriters Festival is one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. It gave me the confidence to push myself out of my comfort zone and bet on forging my own path. Day one, I didn’t consider myself a screenwriter. Day 2, I had a request from an exec for a 2 pager! The festival was an incredible whirlwind of opportunity, impressively organised, with a diverse array of speakers and opportunities to learn, engage and practically put your skills to the test with pitching’
Emily Fuller // Screenwriter
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (actually, 1,000,000 stars)

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I Just Put My Money Where My Mouth Is

Three of our superhero volunteer team are running crowdfunds for their films and I just backed all three. If you feel like it, chuck a fiver into one, or all, just to say thank you for their help at the weekend. Or just share a link on socials if that is what you can do.

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Screen. Play. by Guy Ducker

I’d not been to the London Screenwriters’ Festival for some years, maybe not since 2017. As you might expect, it’s changed. The venue is the same—Regent University, neatly hidden in London’s Regent’s Park—but the tone is different, or perhaps just more noticeable. It’s fun.

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Zoe Hunter Gordon // Director

Zoe is a writer and film director. Her work has been broadcast on the BBC, commissioned by the BFI, programmed at the Barbican and performed at theatres such as the Arcola and New Diorama.

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Script Chat with Marissa Lestrade

Room T011
Learn from one of the best in the business. Marissa will answer your questions following her session on ‘Television on the Edge (of Your Seat): The Art of the Modern Thriller’

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Want to Add Flavor to Your Script? Sean Robert Daniels Shared Four Key Elements of Good Writing from The Screenwriters’ Cookbook on LSF Replay

It’s hard to tell which Sean Robert Daniels loves more, food or stories. Even though I’m a pretty damn good cook and experienced wordsmith, I had never really stopped to think about how these things overlap. Daniels, however, has clearly let the idea… marinate for some time. (Yeah, it’s gonna be that kind of post).

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Sarah Boyks // Freelance Producer

Freelance producer Sarah Boyks tells stories with heart, humour, and visual flair. NFTS trained, she’s producing shorts, developing features, and championing emotional journeys with bold characters.

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Script Chat with Simon van der Borgh

Room T011
Simon will answer your questions directly following his session, “Mastering the Art of Scene-Writing: The Building Blocks of Unforgettable Scripts with Simon van der Borgh.”

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LondonSWF Labs Case Study: I am buzzing! By Neil Weatherall

I’ve just come out of an Advanced Mentoring Script Lab, part of this year’s London Screenwriters Festival and I’m just buzzing. The two mentors were Pat Higgins, dubbed the ‘Essex Auteur’ by Empire magazine and ‘one of the masters of horror’ by The Dark Side, and Marcus Markou whose brilliant debut feature film Papadopoulos & Sons, he wrote, directed AND distributed himself,  achieving the second highest screen average of any film in its opening  weekend, and going on to be shown by the BBC and Netflix.

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Podcast Ep021: Making Your First Award Winning Short as a Screenwriter

Mari’s journey into filmmaking is proof that it’s never too late to chase your dreams. After losing her husband, she found herself in her early 50s, looking for a new direction in life. Instead of playing it safe, she dove headfirst into the world of filmmaking, turning her beautifully written short story “Esmeralda” into a compelling film about grief, control, and chicken keeping (yes, you read that right!).

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Seven Weeks At 100mph, My Internship at LondonSWF by Chloe Sears

The past seven weeks have been a whirlwind of curveballs and learning experiences, but if there’s one thing we know how to do here at the London Screenwriters’ Festival, it’s get creative.  I walked through the gates of Ealing Studios in February with no clue what to expect, but excited for the journey all the same…

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Six Screenwriting Lightbulb Moments from the LondonSWF Online Launch by Jo Simmonds

A powerful reminder that great storytelling starts with rewriting those crucial first ten pages until they sing, embracing both intuitive character work and structured plotting, handling feedback with resilience, staying true to your creative vision even when told to compromise, never pitching before you’re ready, and always, always ending with a confident “thank you.”

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Script Chat

Room T011
Get intimate face-to-face time in our hugely popular Script Chat roundtable sessions. Ask our speakers the questions you want answered.

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Zachary McDonald // Producer

Zachary is a junior producer at Zero Gravity Management, the Los Angeles based Production and Management Company behind ‘Ozark’, ‘The Accountant’, ‘CopShop’ and ‘Honest Thief’, to name a few.

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Feedback from the Online London Screenwriters’ Festival 2025

‘I am blown away by the amazing programm, the wonderful chair-dances that lift up any writer’s spirit, the impressive and well rounded line-up of highly competent and acomplished guest speakers, the great moderators : amazeballs from A to Z!’
Lavinia // Creative producer / Writer / Actress

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Tori Butler-Hart // Producer

Tori co-created Fizz and Ginger Films in 2009, and started writing, producing and line-producing in 2013 when Screen International picked her for their ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ edition.

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Matthew Butler-Hart // Producer and Director

Matthew originally trained as an actor but created Fizz and Ginger Films in 2009, and moved to directing, writing and producing full-time in 2013 when Screen International picked him for their ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ edition.

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What Happened At The First LSFReplay?

What a brilliant session! Gemma’s approach is so refreshingly unique. She gave a couple of seriously good techniques which I haven’t experienced in any other scriptwriting class. Also her advice of the character bible is going to help me hugely in my work.

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Script Chat with Lisa McMullin

Room T011
Lisa will answer your questions following her session, “Breaking In and Breaking Through: From Spec to Success with Henry Fitzherbert & Lisa McMullin.”

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LondonSWF Site Visit At Regents University

The picturesque campus, set to host the 2025 London Screenwriters’ Festival, exceeded expectations with its grand facilities, from sunlit conference halls with state-of-the-art tech to a dining experience far beyond the typical university fare.

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Angela Yeoh // Actor

Working across film, TV and theatre, Angela has always been passionate about the power of stories to shine light in dark places.

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Lizzie Worsdell // Producer

Lizzie is an award-winning actress/producer with credits in BAFTA-qualifying films. Founder of Eldub Films, she creates bold, female-led stories across film, TV, and audio drama.

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Jessica Fox // Screenwriter

Jessica Fox is a film writer, director, and author whose first feature film “Stella” set in 1937 Scotland, won many awards across international film festivals and is currently streaming on STV / ITVx.

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Julien Cornwall // Agent

Julien is a junior agent at GHA, having joined from 42 Management & Productions where he worked for 2 and a half years as a literary assistant.

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Susie Hunt // Development Executive

After studying English Literature and Film Studies at Trinity College Dublin and UCLA, Susie worked in documentaries and as a script reader before moving into assisting Executive Producers on shows.

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Simon Cox // Director

Simon has worked in the TV and film industry for over 30 years and has directed and edited numerous shows for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

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Jonathan Newman // Director

In the space of just two years, Jonathan Newman has achieved the impressive feat of adapting two of his award-winning short films into features, which he not only wrote, but directed too.

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Ida May // Actor

Ida May has spent a lifetime immersed in movement, building a dynamic career as both an actress and movement director.

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Craig Tuohy // Producer and Director

Craig Tuohy is a producer/director with 25+ years in film, including hits at Disney and Sundance winners Like Crazy and Burden. His debut feature is on Apple TV; next up: Incel, shooting in 2026.

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Deola Folarin // Writer and Director

DEOLA FOLARIN is a award winning writer/director. Her graduation short film was Hush Little Baby, a 43-minute thriller. Her first feature script, Stained Glass, was picked for both the prestigious Moonstone Writers and Directors’ Lab [2002].

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Claire Lebowitz // Actor

Claire is an actor, writer and director originally from New York. She has worked with the Living Theatre, Theaterlab, The Park Theatre, Che Walker.

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Eliza Leonard // Actor

Eliza is an actress & award winning writer/filmmaker from London, with over a decade’s experience working across film and theatre.

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Darby Hawker // Actor

A LAMDA-trained British actor based in London and Oxfordshire, with extensive experience across film, theatre, and voice work. Credits include Stardust and Clay’s Redemption. Skilled in a wide range of accents, Darby brings versatility and depth to her performances.

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Mark Jarvis // Actor

Mark is an actor from Nottingham, who trained at Television Workshop before going on to represent National Youth Theatre & training at the drama school ALRA.

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Rebuilding The LondonSWF App And Learning In Real Time

At twenty-one years old, I’m sitting at a desk in the oldest film studio in the world while I rebuild the London Screenwriters Festival app from scratch. Not once in my wildest dreams did I imagine having this privilege, nor did I realize how much contact I would find myself in with real industry professionals.

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Katie Snaydon // Agent

Katie has been an agent at GHA for 8 years, representing a list of writers, showrunners and directors across TV drama, comedy, animation and feature films.

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Louis Chan // Director

Chan is a British filmmaker of Malaysian and Jamaican heritage. His highly accomplished award-winning debut drama short STATIONARY screened at BAFTA qualifying festivals, before partnering with Fully Focused, amassing just under 300,000 views online.

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Max Bramley // Tech Team Support

Max Bramley is a director, writer and producer based in London. Having developed an early taste for filmmaking, Max’s influences are diverse and characterful, much like his current body of work.

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Amber Morris // Marketing

Amber Morris is an undergraduate student attending Boston University’s College of Communication, pursuing a degree in journalism and public relations. She previously worked as a homepage co-op at The Boston Globe.

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Jan von Raumer // Technical Support

Upcoming and aspiring filmmaker who currently studies MA Cinematography at Goldsmith’s University and develops his own documentary “The Magic Behind The Trick” combining his passions for filmmaking and magic.

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Mary Jane Lowe // Script Chat Host

Mary Jane is a London-based writer, actor, and jazz singer. Her feature For the Love of Leo has earned recognition in international screenwriting competitions, alongside her on-screen work in Mile End.

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Julian Wilkins // Lawyer

Do you have legal issues you need a lawyer to help you with? All delegates at the festival have the option to apply for the legal clinic that is run by top media lawyers Blue Pencil Media.

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Amory Leader // Producer

Amory Leader works at Big Book Media Ltd as a Producer and Development Executive for feature films, as well as offering script and story consultancy services for writers and producers.

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Tom Mead // Author

Tom Mead revives the Golden Age detective tradition through his acclaimed Joseph Spector mysteries, blending classic locked-room puzzles with theatrical flair.

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Ben Mole // Director

Ben Mole, a London-based filmmaker, has directed 4 features, show-run a $20M series, and helmed 30+ global TV projects. He’s won dozens of awards across film, TV, VR, and commercials.

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Phil Hughes // Screenwriter and Author

Phil is a screenwriter whose work spans film and TV, with two feature films and several television credits under his belt. He’s also the co-author of ‘Character is Structure: The Insider’s Guide to Screenwriting’.

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D. Scott-Jones // Screenwriter and Trainer

D. Scott-Jones is a Collaborative Scriptwriter telling bold, female-centred stories across audio and screen. She primarily works in sci-fi, fantasy, and dystopian genres, using imaginative worlds to explore the very real challenges women face today.

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#FindingYourAudience in the Digital Age by Don McVey

The creative journey can be a lonely road. After spending two years crafting my debut novel “Karakorum” – a 90,000-word labor of love – I’ve learned some hard truths about storytelling in the digital age that I believe resonate with writers of all kinds.

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Welcome to the new LondonSWF website

Well, I have finally done it. LondonSWF has a new website, built on 100% new technology and architecture. It has been akin to the deadline from hell, trip to the dentist, or bedtime for my boy after a marathon in Fortnite gaming session. Unwanted but absolutely needed.

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Alison Weaverdyck // Official Blogger

Alison, a writer and producer, has explored museum work, teaching abroad, and fiction publishing before falling for screenwriting, now contributing to the transmedia project World of Hood.

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14:30 Online Festival Opening

Join the online LondonSWF opening event and get primed to have the most outstanding weekend as well as knockout main festival in April. Find out EXACTLY what is happening, when and where and how best to use this unique opportunity.

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Hélène Noire and the Radical Permission to Write What You Want

Hélène Noire does not write erotica to shock, provoke, or chase trends. She writes because something inside her insists on being written. Her work sits at the intersection of desire, honesty, and literary intent, and her journey offers valuable lessons for any writer who feels pulled toward taboo, intimacy, or emotional risk.

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