INDUSTRY FOCUS24–25 FEBRUARY

WELCOMEWelcome to Glasgow Film Festival’s inaugural Industry Focus programme.

Industry Focus welcomes an array of speakers from different filmmaking disciplines to provide you with inspiration, exclusive industry tips and the opportunity to network with potential new collaborators.

Day one includes: discussions on virtual reality, book-to-screen adaptations, the growing importance of Video on Demand platforms and the developing role of Producers of Marketing and Distribution.

Day two includes: panels from UK and European funders, distributors, exhibitors and broadcasters explaining what kind of ventures they’re looking to support. Funding experts from, amongst others, Creative Scotland, British Film Institute, Film4, and BBC Films will take part in panels and pre-arranged one-to-one sessions. Industry drinks will be held throughout the festival at 29 Glasgow. See page 13 for more details.

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CONTENTSDay One - TalksAn Anthropological ApproachFrom Pages to PicturesBringing Reality to Virtual Reality Getting Creative with DistributionIndependent Producers Scotland Keynote Is this Legal? The Opportunities in Diversity Spotlight on ShortsVideo on Demand Grows Up When Life Gets in the Way Day Two - FundingMeet the European FundersMeet the BroadcastersMeet the ExhibitorsMeet the DistributorsMeet the FundersBFI Tax Relief Drop-In Drinks at 29 Glasgow

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DAY ONE - TALKSNew technologies, changing audience habits, developing opportunities and innovative strategies are just some of the things that will be discussed on our inspirational first day.

Lila is part of Left Bank Films, developing film and TV projects with a range of writers and directors. She is working with Sony Picture Classics in the USA on a strategy for both development and production finance, and recently optioned the new book from award winning author Michel Faber which she is developing into a major series.

Where do you start in bringing a novel to the screen? Lila Rawlings is an Executive Producer working on various book adaptations and has been involved in the development of Shame, Deep Blue Sea and The Selfish Giant. Lila explains what you should look for in a book and guides you through the process of optioning, licensing and adapting a novel.

Lila Rawlings (Left Bank Pictures)

FROM PAGES TO PICTURES (10.30 - 10.55)

Depicting a family’s journey negotiating life in a war torn country, A Syrian Love Story is an expert study in the relationship between place, people and the wider world. The films producer Elhum Shakerifar discusses how her background in anthropology informed the films production and how via meticulous research, filmmakers can produce more powerful portraits of the world around us.

Elhum is a creative producer working across disciplines on the inter-section between the personal and the political. She recently produced and managed UK theatrical distribution for British Independent Film Awards, European Film Awards and London Critics Circle nominated A Syrian Love Story.

AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL APPROACH (10.00 - 10.30)

Elhum Shakerifar (Postcode Films)

Claire Mundell is a BAFTA and RTS award-winning film and television producer and founder of Synchronicity Films. Her credits include Not Another Happy Ending, written by David Solomons and directed by John McKay, starring Karen Gillan in her first leading feature role. Claire also co-produced the double BIFA winning Weekend, written and directed by Andrew Haigh and produced the BAFTA Scotland winning Crying with Laughter, written and directed by Justin Molotnikov.

Hosted by Claire Mundell

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DAY ONE - TALKSJames is a VR director based in London. Searching for ways to break down distances between audiences and the world created within his films, he tells stories that connect people, directly challenge perceptions, and bridge the gap between the outsider and the insider. James works with companies such as YellowBird, based in the Netherlands, and Surround Vision, based in London.

James Louis Hedley (Surround Vision)

With major manufacturers investing millions of dollars creating hardware that’s built for the home, filmmakers are migrating to VR and using the platform to craft a new style of immersive stories. James Louis Hedley, director of London Film Festival hit Simon and VR Producer on Great Green Wall demonstrates how filmmakers can tell their stories on VR platforms.

BRINGING REALITY TO VIRTUAL REALITY (10.55 - 11.25)

Rebecca is a producer and outreach manager at SDI. She has produced a number of award-winning shorts and is a producer on This Is Scotland, a series of 30’ docs for STV. As well as doing outreach on SDI’s films, she is currently producing two features - Nae Pasaran, directed by Felipe Bustos Sierra and Becoming Animal, directed by Emma Davie & Peter Mettler.

Rebecca Day (Scottish Documentary Institute)

The role of Producer of Marketing and Distribution (PMD) is one that is growing in prominence as audiences fragment across platforms and routes to market shift. This panel discusses how having someone specifically tasked with overseeing a films’ release strategy before it even begins shooting can ensure you reach an audience, and explains some of the strategies PMD’s employ.

GETTING CREATIVE WITH DISTRIBUTION (11.45 - 12.30)

Nick is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and Director of the UWS Creative Media Academy. His most recent production, The Colours of the Alphabet will premiere at Glasgow Film Festival on 21 February. Previous productions include BAFTA Scotland nominated, We Are Northern Lights (GFF 2013), He also directed and co-produced The New Ten Commandments (EIFF 2008) and A Massacre Foretold (EIFF 2007 & Winner of the WACC/SIGNIS Best Human Rights Documentary Film Award 2007).

Nick Higgins (University of the West of Scotland)

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Independent Producers Scotland was formed in 2014 with the aim of transforming the landscape of Scottish film production. This keynote presentation, from founding IPS board member, and Edinburgh based filmmaker Annie Griffin, will outline what progress IPS has made to date, as well as their campaigning objectives for the future. The talk will be fol-lowed by a Q&A with The Herald journalist Phil Miller.

INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS SCOTLAND KEYNOTE (12.30 - 13.25)

Annie is an Edinburgh based filmmaker, founder of Pirate Productions and a Board member of Independent Producers Scotland (IPS). Her work includes the Channel 4 series The Book Group, and the feature film Festival. Her directing work includes two seasons of Fresh Meat for C4 and most recently the BBC3 comedy Together.

Annie Griffin (IPS & Pirate Productions)

Phil has been arts correspondent for The Herald since 2002 and has covered nearly every funding crisis, personality clash, controversy and triumph in Scottish cultural life ever since. As arts correspond-ent, he endeavours to report the latest in breaking arts and cultural news, but also writes features, columns, magazine pieces and reviews. He has been named arts writer of the year at the Scottish Press Awards twice.

Phil Miller (The Herald)

Coming from a background in documentary and cinematography, Ben has been focusing on campaigns around films in recent years. First as PMD at SDI and then with his company Film & Campaign, Ben has worked on high-profile projects including I Am Breathing, Future My Love, Seven Songs for a Long Life and most recently Bugs. Ben specialises in adapting Nation Builder campaigning software for outreach work around films and for 12 years, was co-host of The D-Word.

Ben Kempas (Campaigning Films)

Oli is Head of Distribution at Dogwoof, which acts both as a UK distributor and international sales agent specialising in documentaries and which this year celebrates its tenth year. He is responsible for acquisitions and overseeing all film release campaigns and has overseen the highly successful and innovative campaigns for titles over the past few years such as The Age of Stupid, Restrepo, Dreams of a Life, The Spirit of ‘45, The Act of Killing, Blackfish, and Dior and I.

Oli Harbottle (Dogwoof)

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Between chains of title, release forms and music rights clearances it’s very easy to get in hot water when you’re making a film. We put legal quandaries to leading producers who’ll attempt to figure out an answer before film business affairs specialist Katharine Otway, who explains how exactly to navigate the tricky legal world of filmmaking.

IS THIS LEGAL? (14.25 - 15.15)

Katharine set up her own Glasgow based business affairs consultancy in 2009 to advise on and negotiate contracts in all aspects of film and television development, production, financing and distribution. She now acts for various film and TV production companies and various individual producers, directors, writers and artists.

Katharine Otway (Kenren Media Business Affairs)

The UK population is widely diverse but some groups have found themselves under-represented in cinemas. As well as being a challenge we discuss how this is also a great opportunity for filmmakers to reach audiences whilst contributing to making UK culture richer and a better representative of our diverse population.

THE OPPORTUNITIES IN DIVERSITY (15.15 - 16.00)

Deborah joined the BFI in June 2015 where she has been overseeing the implementation of the wide reaching diversity remit ‘3 ticks’. Prior to this she worked as a programmer at Rich Mix and Shape. With over 30 years experience working as an artist, consultant and manager Deborah is a leader in disability arts, playing a significant role in the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act and Equality Act.

Deborah Williams (BFI)

Ali joined Directors UK in 2014 and previously worked at the Citizens Advice Bureau where she headed up the new National Campaigns Team. Ali has led on campaigning, influencing work and strategy development for organisations spanning the private, public and charity sectors. Ali is responsible for designing and delivering Directors UK’s campaigning strategy and works in close collaboration with the Communications & Public Affairs and Digital teams.

Ali Bailey (Directors UK)

Hamida has over 15 years experience as an equality and diversity policy specialist, advising senior leaders in a range of public services on delivering more accessible services and developing inclusive workplaces. Hamida has worked in local government, criminal justice agencies and the BBC.

Hamida Ali (Equity)

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Life can intervene and interrupt anyone but in the intense world of job-to-job filmmaking and the long production cycles of projects, events can impact filmmakers more than most. This can lead to reduced ability to work, missed opportunities and people falling out of the industry altogether, particularly women. Raising Films are attempting to address this issue and are here to explain how you can be a filmmaker but also have a life.

WHEN LIFE GETS IN THE WAY (17.20 - 17.55)

Hope completed her MFA in filmmaking at Columbia University where she made three shorts that played at festivals worldwide. Hope’s The Dawn Chorus was selected for Sundance, Edinburgh, London and many other festivals. She has made further acclaimed short works for Channel 4, Film London, the UK Film Council and the National Theatre of Scotland. She is currently in post-production on her debut feature, The Levelling.

Hope Dickson Leach (Raising Films)

If you’ve ever submitted a film to Vimeo there’s a good chance Jordan McGarry and the curation team have seen it. Jordan will be explaining what short form content works online and explains how Vimeo is supporting short and feature filmmakers alike via the Vimeo On Demand platform.

SPOTLIGHT ON SHORTS (16.20 - 16.55)

Jordan is Vimeo’s Director of Curation, heading the team that programmes the site’s illustrious Staff Picks channel, the Vimeo On Demand homepage and its new Curated Categories, ensuring that the site’s 170million monthly visitors can always find something to entertain their eyeballs.

Jordan McGarry (Vimeo)

45 Years was released to major critical acclaim, grossing over £1.5m in the UK. What was surprising however was that for a film aimed at a more mature audience, a significant portion of this came on the Curzon Home Cinema VOD platform. James King explains the changes Curzon has seen since it introduced Home Cinema and what it means for filmmakers, audiences and cinema going.

VIDEO ON DEMAND GROWS UP (16.55 - 17.20)

After working as a script reader and doing theatrical sales for independent distributors Verve Pictures, New Waves Films and Arrow Films, James moved to the ICA London where he ran the Film and Cinema Departments for two years. James then worked in the BFI’s distribution department before joining Curzon Artificial Eye as Theatrical Sales Manager, where he tries to get exhibitors to screen better films.

James King (Curzon Artificial Eye)

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DAY TWO - FUNDINGDanish Film Institute, British Film Institute, Creative Europe, Irish Film Board What’s going on across the water and how do UK based filmmakers go about collaborating with them on projects?

MEET THE EUROPEAN FUNDERS (10.30 - 11.25)

As Ireland’s National Screen Agency the Irish Film Board (IFB) has a dual role. In addition to funding local and international production, IFB promote Ireland as a film location internationally.

Rory Gilmartin (IFB)

Marie joined New Danish Screen, the Danish Film Institute’s talent development scheme, as a commissioning editor in 2012. Prior to that, she worked as a journalist and award-winning Film & TV producer in Scotland as company director of Autonomi Ltd. and talent training outfit Diversity Films CIC.

Marie Schmidt Olesen (DFI)

As Head of Certification, Anna works closely with key stakeholders in government and industry to provide advice and guidance on the application processes for all of the cultural tests, co-production treaties and policies relating to all of the creative sector tax reliefs. Anna will be hosting a drop-in session for filmmakers who would like to know more about British certification and tax relief. See p12 for more details.

Anna Mansi (BFI)

Creative Europe Desk UK offers free advice and support to UK-based applicants. Creative Europe unites the previous MEDIA and Culture programmes. It has a budget of €1.46 billion for 2014-2020 and will helps tens of thousands of professionals and organisations in film, TV, games, publishing, music, heritage and the performing and visual arts.

Agnieszka Moody (Creative Europe)

Day two will feature panels of funders, broadcasters, distributors and exhibitors discuss-ing what opportunities are available for filmmakers and advice on what they’re looking for.

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Film4, BBC Alba, MUBISome of the UK’s major broadcasters talk about what projects they’re supporting.

MEET THE BROADCASTERS (11.40 - 12.30)

Ben started his career at Portobello Pictures, working across development and production. He later worked in production on films including How I Live Now and The Riot Club, while also freelancing as a script reader for Film4 and Momentum Pictures/Eone. He joined the Film4 Development team full time in 2013, becoming a Development Executive in 2015.

Ben Coren (Film4)

Alan is employed by MG ALBA and is head of content with BBC Alba. The Scots Gaelic language television channel is the only BBC licenced service to be managed in partnership. Launched in 2008, BBC Alba is now watched by over 700,000 viewers in Scotland every week, over ten times the total Gaelic-speaking population of the country.

Alan Esslemont (BBC Alba)

Bobby is the vice-president of business development for MUBI, a curated online cinema service hosting cult, classic, independent, and award-winning movies. Available in over 200 countries around the globe and on multiple devices, a subscription to MUBI is a passport to the world of cinema. MUBI recently announced that it will be launching in China and in 2015 Paul Thomas Anderson released his documentary Junun exclusively on MUBI.

Bobby Allen (MUBI)

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HOME, Watershed, Scottish Queer International Film FestivalWhat is making audiences tick and how do we keep them coming to the cinema? We talk to exhibitors about what is and isn’t working.

MEET THE EXHIBITORS (13.30 - 14.25)

Jason Wood is the Artistic Director for Film at HOME and Visiting Professor of Film at Manchester School of Art. He has also written numerous books on cinema, the most recent being The Faber Book of New British Cinema.

Jason Wood (HOME)

Mark has worked in independent film exhibition for over 20 years. In 2010 he picked up the Europa Cinemas Entrepreneur of the year for Watershed. Over recent years he has worked with musicians on live music performances to silent film including Adrian Utley and Will Gregory and co-curated Filmic, a new festival dedicated to the creative connections across music and film.

Mark Cosgrove (Watershed)

Helen co-founded and co-runs Scottish Queer International Film Festival (SQIFF) and is also a co-founder of the Queer Film Network UK & Ireland. She previously worked as a programme coordinator for children and young people and has written about film and queer politics for various publications.

Helen Wright (SQIFF)

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Metrodome Distribution, Curzon Film World, Verve Pictures, Peccadillo PicturesFour of the major players in independent UK distribution discuss some of their recent hits and how the distribution system is shifting.

MEET THE DISTRIBUTORS (14.35 - 15.30)

Damo heads up Metrodome Distribution’s theatrical and TV & new media divisions having joined the company in 2013. Metrodome is an award-winning fully integrated rights management and distribution business, which provides its industry expertise to maximise revenues for producers of film and TV content across all distribution platforms in the UK and Ireland.

Damo Spandley (Metrodome Distribution)

After working as a freelance script reader and a stint doing theatrical sales for independent distributors Verve Pictures, New Waves Films and Arrow Films, James moved to the Institute of Contemporary Arts London where he ran the Film and Cinema Departments for two years. James then briefly worked in the BFI’s distribution department before joining Curzon Artificial Eye as Theatrical Sales Manager, where he tries to get exhibitors to screen better films.

James King (Curzon Film World)

Colin is the managing director of Verve Pictures who specialise in the release of thought provoking cinema from the UK and around the world. Since founding the company in 2003, Verve have released films such as My Brother The Devil, Red Road, The Arbor, Dogtooth and the upcoming Couple In A Hole.

Colin Burch (Verve Pictures)

Peccadillo Pictures is an award-winning UK film distributor of Art House, Gay & Lesbian and World Cinema. Launched in 2000, Peccadillo nurtures new and upcoming talent alongside established directors. Peccadillo Pictures also distributes short films and rereleases of classic titles. As well as bringing an array of films to cinemas across the UK and Ireland, Peccadillo provides film viewing on a variety of platforms, from video on demand, iTunes, Blu-ray and DVD.

Tom Abell (Peccadillo Pictures)

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Creative Scotland, Scottish Film Talent Network, BBC Films, BFISome of the UK’s primary public funders explain what they’re looking to fund across features, shorts, docs, development and completion funding.

MEET THE FUNDERS (16.00 - 17.00)

Robbie is responsible for managing the Screen funding programme, which provides support for the development, production and exploitation of feature films, feature documentaries, animation and television drama series. He develops and oversees the implementation of film talent development programmes and leads on the relationships with film and broadcasting partner organisations.

Robbie Allen (Creative Scotland)

Claudia is the Talent Development Executive for SFTN and is responsible for seeking out and identifying film talent and projects for development. She has a background in independent production, having worked as Development Executive at 42 Management & Production. SFTN forms the Scottish element of the BFI NET.WORK, designed to discover, nurture and advance new and emerging filmmaking talent from across the UK.

Claudia Yusef (SFTN)

Rowan began her career as a publicist at the London Film Festival. She then spent some time working in distribution before moving to the BBC, where she spent five years working as a researcher and producer on film programmes including Film 2010/11 and the Kermode & Mayo Film Review. She joined the development team at BBC Films in 2014.

Rowan Woods (BBC Films)

Lizzie is a Senior Production and Development Executive at the BFI Film Fund. She was formerly a Development Producer for the UK Film Council’s Development Fund where she oversaw the First Feature programme, out of which was developed such projects as The Arbor and Gone Too Far. Projects that she has exec produced while she has been at the BFI include High-Rise, 45 Years, A Syrian Love Story, The Falling, ’71, Exhibition, The Second Coming, The Selfish Giant, X+Y and The Duke of Burgundy.

Lizzie Francke (BFI)

BFI TAX RELIEF DROP-IN 12.00–17.00Throughout the day Anna Mansi, Head of Certification at the BFI will be hosting a drop-in session for filmmakers who would like to know more about British certification and tax relief. The certification unit is the first point of contact for applicants to qualify their film, high-end television programme, animation programme, children’s television programme or video game as British, in order to access the UK’s creative sector tax reliefs. The certification unit offers advice on qualification under the creative sector cultural tests, the UK’s bi-lateral co-production agreements and the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production.

There will also be a series of one-to-one sessions for pre-registered filmmakers to discuss specific projects with funders from Creative Scotland, Danish Film Institute, Film4, BBC Films, SFTW and BFI. Thank you to all funders who have agreed to take part in these meetings.

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BFI TAX RELIEF DROP-IN 12.00–17.00

INDUSTRY DRINKS AT 29 GLASGOW

SPONSORS

Exclusive private members club 29 Glasgow is opening the doors to be the home of Industry Focus, hosting both days of events and Industry Drinks.

Industry Pass holders are invited to Industry Drink events to enjoy complimentary drinks from the sponsors below, rub shoulders with like-minded filmmakers and network with industry experts.

Thursday 18 February sponsored by Arnold ClarkFriday 19 February sponsored by Visual ImpactTuesday 23 February sponsored by Independent Producers ScotlandWednesday 24 February sponsored by Creative ScotlandThursday 25 February sponsored by Creative Scotland / Glasgow Film OfficeFriday 26 February sponsored by Women in Film and TV (women only) As an Industry Pass holder, you are granted temporary membership to 29 Glasgow for the duration of Glasgow Film Festival, great as an alternative meeting spot or just an escape from the office. Thank you to our drinks sponsors for supporting Industry Focus.

Glasgow Film Festival is an operating name of Glasgow Film Theatre a charity registered in Scotland, No. SC005932