Speakers

NEW SPEAKERS TO BE ADDED IN THE SUMMER
The London Screenwriters’ Festival features professional speakers from all aspects of the film and television business. Many have also agreed to intimate Script Chat sessions after their respective events so that you can get face time with them.

“

The PitchFest is a fantastic opportunity for screenwriters to meet producers and companies that might lead to long-running relationships

Rob Watson, Producer, Poisson Rouge Pictures

Headliners

Nicole Perlman – Screenwriter

Credits include: Guardians of the Galaxy

Co-writer and original champion of ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’.

Kate Leys – Script editor

Kate’s session on storytelling at past festivals is the stuff of legend. Do NOT miss her!

Kate has had a hand in some of the UK's most successful feature films including The Full Monty and Trainspotting

Julie Gray – Script Guru and Story Development Consultant

Author: Just Effing Entertain Me: A Screenwriter's Atlas

Story analyst, Julie directed the Just Effing Screenwriting Competition for 6 years.

Nik Powell – Producer and Director of National Film and Television School

Credits include: The Crying Game, Mona Lisa

Virgin co-founder turned Producer, Nik is the man behind some of the most successful and acclaimed British films of all time.

Pilar Alessandra – Script Consultant and Educator

Credits include: The Coffee Break Screenwriter

Pilar's students and clients have written for Lost, Prison Break, Nip Tuck, House of Lies, CSI and Family Guy.

“

What a fantastic event. I talked loads, pitched loads, and learned loads.

Sinéad Fagan, Screenwriter

Screenwriters

Paul Bassett Davies – Writer

Credits include: Spitting Image, Alas Smith And Jones, Rory Bremner, Magic Roundabout

Paul has written for and directed the biggest names in comedy. He's also creative director of The London Comedy Writers' Festival

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You have transformed the very idea of a Screenwriters Conference into an event FOR and BY writers… I suspect you are also transforming the industry as you go

Tanya Lees, Screenwriter, Holdfastfilms

People who get stuff made

Yvonne Grace – Television Drama Producer/Script Editor/Writer

Credits include: Eastenders, Holby City

Yvonne has worked in script editing, story development and production for the BBC, Granada, Channel 4 and ITV.

Philip Shelley – Channel Four Screenwriting Course and Script editor

Credits include: Waking The Dead, Medics

Writer, producer and script consultant Philip also runs the Channel Four Screenwriting course.

Julian Friedmann – Film, TV and literary agent

Agent and great supporter of emerging talent.

Julian has years of experience as a literary agent and was the founder of ScriptWriter magazine.

Stephen Follows – Writer and producer

Credits include: Baseline, Sign Language

Stephen Follows is an award-winning writer and producer.

John Yorke – MD Company Pictures

Credits include: Shameless, Life On Mars, Bodies

John is Managing Director of Company Pictures, the UK drama independent producing Skins, Shameless and The White Queen.

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It’s an incredible festival and I’m really fortunate to have been a part of it

Luke Ryan, Producer 'The Cabin In Ther Woods'

Directors

Jonathan Newman – Writer & Director

Credits include: Swinging With The Finkels, Foster, Maria Mundi and the Midas Box

Jonathan most recently directed the $25m movie Mariah Mundi and the Midas Box.

Marcus Markou – Screenwriter & Director

Credits include: Papadopoulos & Sons

DIY filmmaker Marcus wrote, directed, financed, produced and self distributed indie favourite Papadopoulos & Sons.

“

I had high expeditions of the festival and they were totally exceeded. I met great people and learnt a wealth of information. It was brilliant.

Ndidi Spencer, Screenwriter and Director

People who know stuff

Chris Jones – Filmmaker and author

Credits include: Oscars shortlisted Gone Fishing, the Guerilla Handbooks and a bunch of feature films

Chris has spent his life making movies, writing books and helping others make their movies.

Jackie Malton – Story Consultant & Writer

Credits: Prime Suspect, Waking The Dead

Jackie is Ex Detective Chief Inspector Metropolitan Police and the role model for award winning series Prime Suspect.

Karol Griffiths – Script Editor & Supervisor

Credits include: How I Met Your Mother, Friends

Karol has been Lynda La Plante's script and copy editor for the past 3 years and has Edited and Supervised many prime-time TV shows and films.

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.

Ludo Smolski – Development Consultant

Credits include: Filth, Leave To Remain

Ludo is a development consultant and script editor, and is a co-Tutor of the National Film & Television School's Postgraduate Diploma in Script Development.