| LondonSWF 2021 (September) Update Due to Covid uncertainty, we will be running a hybrid festival in 2021, with a three-day live event* and online sessions spread over a longer period of time. Things could change rapidly so keep an eye on our updates HERE. In person delegates will require daily flow tests and vaccine status declaration. |
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.
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"Inspiring speakers, enthusiastic team, supportive community, and fabulous pitching opportunities!"
Alison Clapham, Screenwriter
Headliners
Linda Aronson – Practitioner, Screenwriter
Author of: The 21st-Century Screenplay
Linda Aronson returns to dazzle LSF delegates with her game changing explanations of how to construct non-linear and multiple storyline films.
William Nicholson – Screenwriter & Novelist
Credits include: Gladiator, Les Miserables, Mandela: Long Road To Freedom
Twice Oscar nominated William Nicholson is a British screenwriter, playwright, and novelist.
David Reynolds – Screenwriter
Disney and Pixar writer David Reynolds credits include; Finding Nemo, Toy Story 2 & 3 and The Emperor's New Groove.
Diane Drake – Screenwriter and Story Consultant
Her first produced original script, ONLY YOU, starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Marisa Tomei, sold for $1m, while her next, WHAT WOMEN WANT, starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt, is the second highest grossing rom/com of all time.
J. Michael Straczynski – Screenwriter, Producer, Director
J. Michael Straczynski is an American television and film screenwriter, producer and director, and comic book writer. He is the founder of Synthetic Worlds Ltd. and Studio JMS.
Lorien McKenna – Screenwriter, Story Manager, Producer
Credits include Bave, Inside Out and Curious George TV series
Screenwriter Lorien McKenna has set up TV projects at Hulu, NBC and Netflix. She was the Co-EP for the CURIOUS GEORGE TV series and the features and has developed several TV projects for Disney Jr. She also wrote the feature HOW TO SET A FIRE AND WHY, bas
Meg LeFauve – Oscar-nominated Screenwriter
Meg received an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay for Pixar's mega hit Inside Out, for which she also won an Annie Award.
Mike Medavoy – Producer, CEO of Phoenix Pictures
His credits include U-Turn, Zodiac, Shutter Island, Black Swan, Altered Carbon, and many many more.
Pilar Alessandra – Script Consultant, Educator
Author of The Coffee Break Screenwriter
Pilar's students and clients have written for Lost, Prison Break, Nip Tuck, House of Lies, CSI and Family Guy.
Scott Myers – Screenwriter, Producer, Educator
Credits include K-9 with Jim Belushi and Trojan War with Jennifer Love Hewitt
Scott is head honcho and scribe at Go Into The Story, official screenwriting blog for the Black List.
“
The Festival has created a grounded, rounded, richly valuable experience for writers like myself."
Lee Stone, Writer
Screenwriters
Ashley Pharoah – Writer
Credits include: Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes
Ashley is a veteran TV writer who has created and written several long-running series for the BBC and ITV.
Jed Mercurio – Screenwriter
Credits include: Line Of Duty, Cardiac Arrest
Jed's most recent credit, 'Line of Duty', is the most watched BBC2 drama series in the multichannel era.
Tim Bain – Screenwriter
Credits include: PJ Masks, Fireman Sam
Tim has written hundreds of episodes for some of the world's most beloved children's shows.
Aimée Kwan – Writer, Director and Actress
Aimée Kwan is a British-Thai writer, director and actress who loves global storylines and voices yet unheard.
Alexis Kirke – Screenwriter, Technologist
Alexis Kirke is a screenwriter and technologist who has been innovating in the field of film and Artificial Intelligence for the last decade.
Amanda Graham – Screenwriter and Trainer
Selected as one of the BFI x Bafta Crew 2021, one of Edinburgh TV Festival’s Ones to Watch 2018-2019, member of WGGB, and….apocalyptic cult church survivor, Amanda Graham is a comedy scriptwriter with a strong point of view.
Anthony Mullins – Screenwriter, Director and Script producer
Anthony Mullins is a BAFTA and AWGIE award winning screenwriter, director and script producer.
Aschlin Ditta – Screenwriter
Credits include: The Catherine Tate Show, Little Heart
Aschlin is an award-winning Screenwriter known for 'Swimming With Men' starring Rob Brydon and his various collaborations with Catherine Tate
Clive Frayne – Screenwriter, Development Consultant and Author
Author of The Process of Screenwriting
Clive Frayne is an award-winning writer and filmmaker with thirty years' experience writing professionally.
Debbie Moon – Screenwriter
Credits include: Wolfblood, Hinterland
Debbie is the BAFTA-winning creator and lead writer of the CBBC fantasy drama series Wolfblood, which ran for five series and is shown in nearly 60 countries.
Dominic Morgan – Screenwriter
Credits include Hard Target 2, An Act of Defiance
Dominic has written for 30-plus studios and production companies, including Universal Studios, Working Title, Scott Free and the BBC.
Dui Jarrod – Screenwriter, Director and Playwright
Dui Jarrod is a Day-time Emmy nominated & award-winning screenwriter, director, and playwright residing in Brooklyn, NY best known for BROOKLYN. BLUE. SKY.
George Kay – Executive Producer, Writer
Credit include: Lupin, Killing Eve, Criminal UK, The Tunnel, The Hour
A writer on the cutting edge of thrilling crime television, writing on Killing Eve, and creating Criminal, on Netflix worldwide
Glenn Gers – Screenwriter
Glenn Gers has been a professional screen-and-television writer for 25 years.
Henry Fitzherbert – Screenwriter
Credits include Slaughterhouse Rulez, Born a King
Henry co-wrote Slaughterhouse Rulez starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Michael Sheen and penned the historical epic Born a King.
James Wood – Screenwriter
Credits include: Rev, The Gamechangers
James Wood is the Bafta wining writer and creator of Freezing, Rev, Ambassadors and The Gamechangers.
Jeff Kitchen – Screenwriter
Author of the bestselling book, Writing a Great Movie, Jeff has taught thousands of writers from Broadway to Hollywood.
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.
Joe Ainsworth – Screenwriter
Credits include: Brookside, Holby City and New Tricks.
BAFTA winner Joe is a veteran of recurring drama, writing for some of the most popular series on TV.
Joe Wielosinski – Screenwriter, Teacher
Joe Wielosinski is an award-winning screenwriter and teacher.
Jose Molina – Screenwriter, Producer
Jose Molina has written and produced fan favourite television for more than 20 years, including stints on Strange world, Firefly, Castle, Grimm, and Agent Carter.
Kat Wood – Screenwriter & Director
Credits include: Home, Arthur & Merlin
Kat’s directorial debut, the short film 'Home' starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, makes her the first ever UK winner of the Jameson First Shot Competition.
Lisa McMullin – Screenwriter
Credits include EastEnders, Doctors
Lisa writes continuing drama series for television and also writes Big Finish audio dramas, including Doctor Who, Torchwood, and Time War.
Lucinda Coxon – Screenwriter
Credits include: The Danish Girl, The Crimson Petal and the White
Lucinda is an award-winning writer for film, television, and stage.
Mark Sanderson – Screenwriter, Script Consultant, Author, Blogger, and Lecturer
Author of: A Screenwriter’s Journey to Success: Tips, Tricks, and Tactics to Survive as a Working Screenwriter in Hollywood
Mark Sanderson is a screenwriter, script consultant, author, blogger, and lecturer blessed to be living his childhood dream of making movies with screenplays written in a wide range of genres.
Pat Higgins – Writer, Director
Credits include TrashHouse, Hellbride, KillerKiller
After writing and directing three internationally distributed micro-budget horrors, Pat wrote the award-winning mockumentary, The Devil’s Music.
Pen Densham – Producer, Screenwriter
Pen Densham is an Oscar-nominated British-Canadian film and television producer, writer, director, and author.
Richard Kurti – Screenwriter
Credits include: Wolfblood, Primeval
Richard and his writing partner Bev Doyle broke into the business by writing and selling a spec script, Newton's Law, which led to 14 further movie commissions.
Robbie Sunderland – Writer
Robbie is a sketch, sitcom and topical joke writer who has written for The Comedy Geek Sketch Podcast, The Wireless Show, Sketch Please!
Sally Abbott – Screenwriter
Credits include: The Coroner, Vera, Death in Paradise, Eastenders and Frantic Assembly
Sally has created the BBC1 Drama The Coroner.
Simon Cox – Writer, 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.
Simon Nye – Screenwriter
Credits include: Men Behaving Badly, Reggie Perrin and The Durrells
Simon was a translator before starting his writing career as a novelist, adapting his two novels 'Men Behaving Badly' and 'Wideboy' into TV series.
Thandi Lubimbi – Screenwriter
Alongside her legal career, Thandi started writing drama, fantasy and sci-fi scripts.
Trish Curtin – Writer, Producer
Trish Curtin is an emerging Australian Screenwriter in Brisbane, Queensland.
“
It was a pleasure to engage with such a diverse group of passionate writers..."
Kate Harwood, Controller Series/Serials, BBC Drama
People Who Get Stuff Made
Ned Dowd – Producer
Apocalypto, King Arthur, Ondine, Shanghai Noon and Last Of The Mohicans
Apocalypto, King Arthur, Shanghai Noon and Last Of The Mohicans are a handful of films on Ned's resume - it reads more like our movie collection!
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.
Jeremy Howe – Drama Commissioning Editor | Radio 4
Credits include: The Archers, Bloomsday
Jeremy is responsible for commissioning over 300 titles a year for Radio 4.
Ceri Meyrick – Executive Producer and Head of Development | BBC Studios
She has trained many writers who have gone on to secure jobs within the industry and has worked on Ballykissangel.
Alexei Slater – Filmmaker - Turn The Slate Productions
Alexei has several projects in development. This year he is looking to advise writers on making the step into short films of all types, writing for shorts, assembling a team and tackling festivals and distribution.
Carrie Courogen – Associate Director of Creative Development | Condé Nast
Carrie Courogen is an associate director of creative development at Condé Nast, where she works across the digital entertainment portfolios of Pitchfork, Vanity Fair, Tatler, Teen Vogue, and Vanity Fair.
Catherine King – Development Co-ordinator | Reel One
Reel One Entertainment, a Newen (TF1 Group) company, is a dynamic international television production and distribution company focusing on prime time Christmas movies and RomComs.
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.
Gary W. Goldstein – Producer
Credits include: Pretty Woman, Under Siege, The Mothman Prophecies, and Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle o
An award-winning film producer, Gary Goldstein has produced some of Hollywood’s biggest box-office hits, including Pretty Woman, Under Siege, The Mothman Prophecies, and cult fan favorite Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death.
Stewart Le Marechal – Producer | MetFilm
Stewart is open to hearing most ideas although less keen on straight horror. Looking for both Film and TV.
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Hearing what was in my head come alive in front of me left me inspired."
Edwina Tyrrell, Screenwriter
Directors
Debbie Isitt – Screenwriter & Director
Credits include: Confetti, Nativity 1, 2 & 3
Debbie's unique improvisational methods have attracted the cream of UK comedy to her projects including Martin Freeman, Alan Carr, Jessica Hynes, Stephen Mangan and David Tennant.
Jim Agnew – Director, Writer and Producer
Jim Agnew is a director, writer and producer, known for The Capture (2017), Rage (2014) and Game of Death (2011).
John Maclean – Screenwriter & Director
Credits include: Slow West, Pitch Black Heist
John’s debut feature 'Slow West' was released in 2015 and won multiple awards including one at Sundance.
Marcus Markou – Screenwriter & Director
Credits include: Papadopoulos & Sons
DIY filmmaker Marcus wrote, directed, financed, produced and self distributed indie favourite Papadopoulos & Sons.
“
I'm only on my second LSF and already it is THE thing I look forward to every year!"
Sarah Paviour, Writer
Actors
Matthew Joseph Campbell – Writer, Actor
Matthew Joseph-Campbell graduated from New College Lanarkshire’s Acting & Performance course in 2016.
Stephen Arthur – Writer, Actor
Stephen Arthur is a trained actor and writer, graduating in 2016 with a First class Honours in BA Acting from New College Lanarkshire.
“
It's so rare to have so many writers – some of the most intelligent, imaginative souls there are – in one place at the same time..."
J Beltrame, Screenwriter
People Who Know Stuff
Lucy V Hay – Script Editor | Bang2write
Bionic blogger, script editor, author and the voice of new writers!
Lucy is legendary for her enthusiasm and the knowledge she shares with her Bang2Write community and is a core member of the LSF team.
Ellin Stein – Script Editor, Educator
Author of That's Not Funny, That's Sick
Ellin teaches screenwriting on the MA Script Writing programme at Goldsmiths and has worked in development for numerous production companies in the US and UK.
Chris Jones – LSF Director & Founder, Filmmaker, Author
Credits include the Oscar®-shortlisted Gone Fishing; author of the Guerilla Handbooks
Chris has spent his life making movies, writing books and helping others make their movies.
Bob Schultz – Writer, Producer, Professor, Instructor
Credits include Below Zero, Hitlersaurus!
Writer, producer, screenwriting professor and co-founder of ScriptFest.
Stephen Follows – Writer and producer
Credits include: Baseline, Sign Language
Stephen Follows is an award-winning writer and producer.
Jean Kitson – Agent, Kitson Press Associates
Founder: Kitson Press Associates
Jean Kitson is an agent representing film, TV, theatre and radio writers and particular interest in both mainstream drama and children's media.
Adele Anderson – Personal Fitness Trainer and Screenwriter
After several years of working in the fitness industry while trying to learn how to write a great TV pilot, Adele took an unexpected pivot: writing an experimental audio drama that combined storytelling and exercise.
Caroline Ferguson – Writer and Mindset Trainer
She's developed a set of powerful mindset tools to help writers ditch self-sabotage and achieve more consistent creative flow.
Chris Gore – Writer, Comedian, Author and Television Personality
Chris Gore is a writer, comedian, author and television personality who has built a solid reputation as a hilariously outspoken voice in the entertainment world.
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.
Houston Howard – Co-Founder of One 3 Creative, Producer, author
You're Gonna Need A Bigger Story, You're Gonna Need A Bigger Workbook
Viewing story through a transmedia lens, a thought leader and creator of the SUPER STORY method.
Ian Shorr – Writer, Producer and panda enthusiast
Known for Splinter (2008), Office Uprising (2018) and Infinite (2021)
Ian Shorr is a prolific spec-hound, with several spec sales to his name.
Joanna Tilley – Writer and Script Consultant
Since writers struggle writers to create female characters as three-dimensional as their leading men, Joanna consults on developing the female elements of scripts
Lee Jessup – Career Coach
Credits include: Getting It Write: An Insider's Guide To A Screenwriting Career
Lee is a career coach for screenwriters, with an exclusive focus on the screenwriter's professional development.
May Gibson – Producer & Script Development Executive
Credits include: The Musketeers, Wolfblood
May has worked on the development and production of many television drama, comedy and children’s programmes for the UK and the US.
Patti Good – Therapist, Teacher, Healer and Spiritual Mentor
Meditation Teacher, Doula, Hypnobirthing Practitioner and Reiki Master
Meditation Teacher, Accredited Journey Practitioner, a Certified BodyTalk Practitioner, an EFT Practitioner,
Philip Hughes – Screenwriter, Educator
Writing credits include Thunderpants, I Want Candy, The Queen's Nose
Phil is Course Leader for BA(Hons) Film & Screen degree at Regent’s University, London and is an experienced script editor for film and TV.
Roxanne Harvey – Producer
Credits include: Casualty, The Bill, Bad Girls
Roxanne works as a story producer for Snowed In Productions and worked on the adaptation of the latest installment of "Strike".
Sean Robert Daniels – Nicholl Fellow-winning Screenwriter
Killers, The Docket, The Last Victims
Screenwriter, head writer, script editor, story consultant, and 1st South African to win the Academy Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting
Shannan E. Johnson – CEO of The Professional Pen
Shannan E. Johnson is a former creative executive of TV development and programming turned CEO of the first black-owned script consultancy.
Suzanne Gundersen – Founder of ScreenwriteNOW
Suzanne Gundersen is Founder of ScreenwriteNOW and Inner Story Consultant who mentors & teaches screenwriters and industry creatives how to clear the path that let’s their story flow.
Ted Wilkes – Screenwriter, Educator
Co-author of The Beginning, The Middle & The End (available soon)
Ted teaches Screenwriting and Digital Media at Regent's University and is currently developing a TV series with producer Nick Agha.
“
It’s extraordinary to meet so many people in one place who are on the same journey, and I will never get tired of hearing their stories."
Michelle Hood, Screenwriter
Moderators
Mark Pallis – Screenwriter
Credits include: Garrow's Law, Iron Monk, Tales of Peter Rabbit
Barrister turned writer Mark served as story editor on Garrow's Law and has several TV and feature projects ready to go.
Guy Rowland – Screenwriter
Credits include Sam Jackson's Secret Video Diary
Screenwriter, composer and sound designer with a passion for storytelling in all of those forms.
Cera Rose Pickering – Screenwriter, Playwright & Actor
Credits include: Downton Abbey, Endeavour
When Cera isn’t writing, she can be found performing on stage and screen, appearing in films and TV shows.
Desi Lyon – Writer & Moderator
Desi writes drama and comedy drama for film and TV and is an LSF Talent Campus 5 alumnus.
Fiona Hunnisett – Screenwriter, Moderator
A former litigation lawyer turned screenwriter, Fiona is represented by WGM Atlantic Talent & Literary Group.
Georgina Sherrington – Development Producer
Georgina has worked in script editing for Harlots S3 (Hulu/Amazon) and Gormenghast (Fremantle), in commissioning for BBC Drama, and development for Euston Films.
Guy Mannerings – Moderator
Guy is a moderator for the festival. Guy started in the industry as an actor, before producing, writing, and, more recently, directing.
KT Parker – Screenwriter & Playwright
Credits include Jenna the Great and The Chamber of Beheaded Queens.
Giving a voice to women and marginalised groups one script at a time.
Liz Slade – Moderator, Screenwriter, Lawyer
Liz has hosted Q&As with filmmakers at the Raindance Film Festival for the last three years and interviewed Christopher Hampton at LSF 2019.
Lucy van Smit – Novelist & Screenwriter
Credits include: The Hurting
Lucy's debut novel The Hurting was brought by JK Rowling’s publisher – the legendary Barry Cunningham and Chicken House Books.
Mai Davies – Moderator
Mai Davies is a journalist and broadcaster, a former news presenter for Sky News, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5Live, BBC Radio Wales and ITV Politics.
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.
Vera Mark – Writer, Script Coach, Moderator
Vera is a moderator at the festival.
Vera is a writer across formats with a preference for screenwriting.
“
Thanks to you and your team for the most amazing four days at the Screenwriters’ Festival; I have come away buzzing and have already bought my ticket for next year!"
Liz Mente-Bishop, Screenwriter
