Speakers | London Screenwriters' Festival

LondonSWF 2021 (September) Update
This year we are running a hybrid festival, with a three-day live event combined with myriad online sessions spread over a longer period of time. Please note that due to ongoing covid restrictions and the possibility that people may need to self-isolate or even quarantine at very short notice, we cannot guarantee confirmed speakers will be able to participate, even in online sessions.

As the vaccine roll-out advances, the risk diminishes, but it is still very much there, and so we ask for your understanding. If a speaker does have to pull out at the last minute for whatever reason, we will attempt to organise an online session with them at a later date.

For the latest updates on the situation, please check here.

We are assembling the GREATEST roster of screenwriting speakers ever for our TENTH anniversary!

The London Screenwriters’ Festival will host around 130 professional speakers from all areas of the film and television business. Many have also agreed to intimate online Script Chats (subject to technology) after their respective sessions so that you can get facetime with them. Although speakers are being added continuously, the vast majority will be confirmed in the summer of 2021. Get updates by signing up below.

“

Absolute value for money. My advice would be to new attendees: take a look at the schedule and all the speakers in advance and do a bit of research."

Sarah Turner, Screenwriter

Headliners

Lena Headey – Actress, Writer, Director

Credits include Game of Thrones, The Brothers Grimm, The Trap

Emmy-nominated Lena is best known for playing Queen Cersei in HBO’s Game of Thrones and is a multiple Golden Globes and Emmy nominee.

“

The LSF team and volunteers go to a huge effort to make the festival a completely mind-blowing experience."

Charlotte Essex, Screenwriter

Screenwriters

Barbara Machin – Screenwriter, Showrunner

Credits include Waking The Dead, The Bill

Barbara Machin is the BAFTA and Emmy award-winning screenwriter who created BBC One’s worldwide-selling hit series Waking The Dead.

Anoushka Warden – Screenwriter, Actress

Credits include My Mum's a Twat

Anoushka was selected for Channel 4's 2018 Screenwriting course. In 2019 her play, My Mum's a Twat, had a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Daniel Maier – Comedy & Narrative Screenwriter

Credits include A Touch of Cloth, Charlie Brooker's You Have Been Watching

A regular writer on Harry Hill's TV Burp, Daniel also co-wrote A Touch of Cloth with Charlie Brooker.

Danusia Samal – Actress, Writer, Singer

Credits include Ghost in the Shell, Out of Sorts

Danusia won the Theatre503 International Playwriting Award for her play Out of Sorts and took Busking It, a gig-theatre piece based on her own experiences, to the Edinburgh Fringe.

Debbie Horsfield – Screenwriter

Credits include Poldark; Sex, Chips & Rock 'n Roll; All The Small Things

Debbie is responsible for the BBC smash hit Poldark and is an award-winning screenwriter and playwright.

Emmanuel Oberg – Screenwriter, Author, Creative Consultant

Credits include Double Game; author of the Story-Type Method® series of books

Emmanuel has written for Warner Bros, Gold Circle, StudioCanal, Working Title and Film4.

Henry Naylor – Playwright, Screenwriter

Credits include Spitting Image, Echoes

Henry is an award-winning UK playwright and the Fringe's unofficial star writer in residence. In 2016, he joined J.K. Rowling in having written one of the 10 Best Plays Of The Year according to The Times.

Jessica Ruston – Screenwriter

Credits include Harlots, Young Wallander

Jessica is developing both original and adaptation projects with companies such as Dancing Ledge, Monumental Television, Big Light, and 42 UK/US for both terrestial broadcast and streaming.

Marnie Dickens – Screenwriter

Credits include Thirteen, Gold Digger

Marnie is the creator and writer of drama Thirteen that aired on BBC Three iPlayer, BBC Two and BBC America, starring Jodie Comer (Killing Eve). Her latest original drama series is Gold Digger.

Michal Aviram – Screenwriter

Credits include Fauda, Project Orpheus

Michal Aviram is an award-winning Israeli screenwriter. She has created and written on hit shows for numerous platforms, including Netflix, Amazon and Israeli broadcaster, Keshet.

Romi Aboulafia – Actress, Writer, Producer

Credits include The Debt, Harmon

Israeli actress Romi has worked with directors such as John Madden and Anthony Minghella and actors such as Jessica Chastain and Helen Mirren.

“

How nice to be able to ask questions and have a conversation in a non-stressful environment."

Carolyn Cameron, Screenwriter

People Who Get Stuff Made

Julian Friedmann – Film, TV & Literary Agent

Staunch supporter of emerging talent

Julian has years of experience as a literary agent. He is also the founder of ScriptWriter magazine and author of How To Make Money Scriptwriting.

Alexandra Arlango – Founder of The Brit List, Head of Development | Caryn Mandabach Productions

Credits include The Duchess, Alien Autopsy

Alexandra has co-produced Oscar-winning films and has run The Brit List for the last 12 years.

Catherine Williams – Screenwriter

Credits include New Teletubbies, Topsy and Tim, Waffle the Wonder Dog, Chip and Potato

Catherine has over 15 years’ experience as series co-creator, writer, head writer and script editor on many BAFTA-winning children’s shows.

Francesca Moody – Theatre Producer | Francesca Moody Productions

Credits include Fleabag, Baby Reindeer

Francesca is best known as the original producer of the multi-award winning and Olivier-nominated Fleabag by Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Joanna Strevens – Executive Producer | Carnival Films

Credits include The Tunnel, The Suspicions of Mr Whicher

Jo began as a BBC Script Editor and went on to develop drama for Hat Trick, Kudos and Carnival.

John Yorke – MD | Angel Station

Credits include Wolf Hall, Shameless, Life On Mars, EastEnders

John is author of Into the Woods and a drama producer, consultant and lecturer on all forms of storytelling. He also executive produced Wolf Hall.

Karen Thrussell – Executive Producer | Mammoth Screen

Credits include Poldark, Ordeal by Innocence

Karen is an accomplished executive producer who has spent the last six years overseeing Poldark and the Agatha Christies for Mammoth Screen.

Paul Gilbert – Commissioning Executive | Sky Drama

Credits include Bulletproof, Tin Star, Humans

Paul execs a range of shows such as Bulletproof, Tin Star, Strike Back and new Sky One sci-fi series Intergalactic starring Savannah Steyn (The Tunnel).

Richard Lingard – Course Leader, AD/Location Management | The NFTS

Credits include Strange, The Escapist

Richard began as a runner for Ridley Scott and went on to First AD at Channel 4. He has worked with notable directors such as Stephen Poliakoff.

Steve November – MD | Further South Productions

Credits include Coronation Street, Emmerdale

Steve has experience developing drama on acclaimed shows such as Downton Abbey, Broadchurch and The Durrells.

“

I got way more from it than I expected and you can’t put a price on that."

Ian Maxim Martin, Screenwriter

Directors

Jonathan Newman – Writer, Director

Credits include The Adventurer: Curse of the Midas Box, Foster

Jonathan Newman recently directed the $25m movie The Adventurer: Curse of the Midas Box.

Anthony Byrne – Director

Credits include Peaky Blinders, Ripper Street, Mr Selfridge

Anthony has directed many critically acclaimed dramas including last season's Peaky Blinders and is set to direct the coming season of the hit show.

John Stevenson – Director

Credits include Kung Fu Panda, Shrek, Madagascar

John has over 40 years' experience in film development, earning an Academy Award nomination as director on Kung Fu Panda.

“

A production company I pitched to were interested in my idea for an adapted screenplay. I negotiated an option for the film rights with the publisher and am about to submit my draft!"

Louise Vale, Screenwriter

People Who Know Stuff

Hayley McKenzie – Founder & CEO | Script Angel

Script Angel’s team of BAFTA-winning script editors help writers to elevate their scripts, develop their voice and advance their screenwriting career.

David Baboulene, PhD – Narrative Theorist, Story Consultant

Credits include Story Theory

David's research into narrative theory has demonstrated how the power of every story lies in the way it resonates with the human mind.

David Pope – Script Consultant, Screenwriter

David has delivered script consultancy services for projects all over the world, including films that have been candidates for Academy Awards.

Harriet Bratt – International Speaker, Trainer

Harriet Bratt is an international speaker, trainer, fire walk instructor and WARRIOR. Her mission is to empower people globally to Unleash their Warrior within... and Master their Life.

Jay Harley – Screenwriting Coach

Jay is a proud member of the Script Angel family. They have formerly worked in TV, radio and film within the genres of factual, drama and comedy and have been a script editor for ten years. They are also proudly trans and queer.

Shelly Mellott – Vice President of Sales & Marketing | Final Draft

Shelly manages the professional and educational sales divisions, develops initiatives that drive sales across all retail channels, and manages marketing, events and customer relations at Final Draft.

“

LSF was great affirmation that scriptwriting is a possible reality for everyone that attended. The sessions provided a rich source of information, direction and support."

Andrew Griffin, Screenwriter

Moderators

Maureen Hascoet – Producer, Director

Credits include 50 Kisses ('Enough' segment)

Maureen is an LSF team veteran. Based in Scotland, she runs her own production company, Firewalker Films, and is passionate about promoting gender equality and mental health.

“

Thank you for an amazing, informative, and the most memorable LondonSWF yet!"

We are assembling the GREATEST roster of screenwriting speakers ever for our TENTH anniversary!

Sarah Turner, Screenwriter

Headliners

Charlotte Essex, Screenwriter

Screenwriters

Carolyn Cameron, Screenwriter

People Who Get Stuff Made

Ian Maxim Martin, Screenwriter

Directors

Louise Vale, Screenwriter

People Who Know Stuff

Andrew Griffin, Screenwriter

Moderators

Jean Maye, Screenwriter

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Kate Harwood, Controller Series/Serials, BBC Drama

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